Paris Panayiotopoulos takes the reins at Ariad

Chutes and Ladders

Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Amirah Al Idrus (email | Twitter), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.


Paris Panayiotopoulos takes the reins at Ariad

Ariad Pharmaceuticals
Paris Panayiotopoulos was named CEO.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals ($ARIA) named Paris Panayiotopoulos its next CEO on Friday following the activist investor-led ousting of its former CEO and founder, Harvey Berger. Previously the president of Merck KGaA's EMD Serono unit, Panayiotopoulos has managed turnarounds in Japan, the U.S. and Western Europe, according to his EMD Serono biography, and has served in prior roles at Merck KGaA and Eli Lilly ($LLY). According to EMD Serono, he has done so by "building high-performing and trusting teams, and creating an enduring vision, strategy and cultural DNA" in the positions. Berger stepped down in April, ceding to activist investor Alex Denner. Release | More


Following Jörn Aldag's resignation, Dan Soland appointed uniQure CEO

uniQure
Dan Soland was named CEO.

UniQure ($QURE) appointed Dan Soland its next CEO this week following the sudden resignation of Jörn Aldag, who held the post since 2009. In a release announcing the moves, uniQure provided no details about Aldag's resignation but said that he will be available to assist the company during the transition. Soland is a 30-year industry veteran, most recently holding the COO position at ViroPharma, where he was responsible for building out the firm's organization and commercial infrastructure before its $4 billion sale to Shire ($SHPG) last year. Prior to ViroPharma, he was president of Chiron Vaccines, CEO of Epigenesis Pharmaceuticals and vice president and director of worldwide marketing operations at GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) Biologicals. He also held various positions at Pasteur-Merieux's Connaught Laboratories, now Sanofi Pasteur. Release


Diagnostics exec Gene Walther named CEO at Vortex BioSciences

NetScientific
Gene Walther was named head of diagnostics and CEO at Vortex BioSciences.

NetScientific, continuing its restructuring, announced that Gene Walther, former global head of diagnostics at Novartis ($NVS), will serve as CEO of its Vortex BioSciences portfolio company and serve as head of the group's diagnostics franchise. He'll replace interim Vortex CEO Dr. Michael Boyce-Jacino, who is stepping down at the end of the month. With more than 20 years of experience as a diagnostics executive, Walther will be tasked with accelerating the development of Vortex's lab systems and coordinating the group's diagnostics efforts. Most recently, he served as a consultant to the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, advising on Ebola strategy. Prior to that, he was the deputy director of diagnostics at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Release


NuVasive will build a $45M manufacturing facility in Ohio, creating 300 jobs. Story

Philips' Volcano will keep its Sacramento site despite 60 manufacturing layoffs. Story


Biotech

> AirXpanders named Anthony Carnemolla as vice president of U.S. sales, Jennie Kim as senior director of global marketing and Gary Jones as director of customer fulfilment. Release

> Catabasis Pharmaceuticals ($CATB) named Deirdre Cunnane as senior vice president and general counsel. Release

> Aimmune ($AIMT) appointed Jeffrey Knapp as chief operating officer. Release

> Vimal Patel joins Eurofins Bioanalytical Services as scientific director for large molecule bioanalysis. Release

> Dicerna ($DRNA) named John "Jack" Green as interim chief financial officer. Release

> Bind Therapeutics ($BIND) appointed Jonathan Yingling as chief scientific officer. Release

> Bioanalytical Systems ($BASI) appointed Dawn Joseph as director of business development. Release

> Lee Buckler, Replicel Life Sciences VP of business and corporate development, will succeed David Hall as CEO. Hall will retire effective Jan. 1, 2016. Release

> BioDelivery Sciences ($BDSI) promoted Niraj Vasisht to senior vice president and chief technology officer and Albert Medwar to senior vice president of corporate and business development. Release

> Evofem appoints Sandra Matsumoto as vice president of global regulatory affairs. Release

> Immunocore appointed James Sandy as chief development officer and Julian Hirst as director of corporate finance. Release

Alana McNulty joined Effector Therapeutics as its chief financial officer. Release

Revance Therapeutics ($RVNC) appointed Abhay Joshi as its chief operating officer. Release

Sanuwave brought on Lisa Sundstrom as chief financial officer. Release

Tony Gardiner joined Avacta Group as its chief financial officer. Release

Med tech

> Exact Sciences ($EXAS) appointed John Bakewell as chief financial officer. Release

Animal health

> Jaguar Animal Health ($JAGX) appointed Karen Wright as chief financial officer. Release

Diagnostics

> NetScientific named Lawrence Cohen CEO of Glycotest. Release

> Advanced Cell Diagnostics appointed Dr. Robert Monroe as chief medical officer. Release