MDS promotes Steve West to chief executive
pharmafile | January 14, 2010 | Appointment | Research and Development | appointment, mds, research and development
Canadian clinical research firm MDS has appointed Steve West chief executive.
He was formerly president of MDS Nordion and chief operating officer at MDS and in his new role replaces Stephen DeFalco.
MDS has also appointed Peter Dans chief financial officer, with effect from 1 February.
The company’s current CFO Doug Prince is expected to leave the organisation in March 2010.
“With the strategic repositioning of MDS under way, the board believes it is appropriate to move forward with its CEO transition plan,” said James MacDonald, chairman of MDS’ board of birectors.
“We are confident that Steve’s attention to financial performance and his track record of strengthening operations will serve the company well, both now and into the future. The board would like to wish Stephen and Doug all the best in their future endeavors.”
The company said Mr Prince would work with Mr Dans to achieve a smooth transition, and will continue to support the company’s repositioning actions announced on September 2, 2009, including the sale of the MDS Analytical Technologies business, the planned share buyback and the intended sale of the MDS Pharma Services Early Stage business.
Following the expected completion of the strategic repositioning plan, the company will be focused on its MDS Nordion business, a stand-alone business that concentrates on medical imaging and radiotherapeutics, and sterilisation technologies.
Steve West became president of MDS Nordion in 2003. He began his career at MDS in 2001 as a senior partner with MDS Capital Corporation and prior to that was president of DiverseyLever Canada.
West holds a degree in genetics from the University of London, and has held a variety of chief executive posts in Asia and the Pacific Rim, as well as international business development responsibilities in the specialty chemicals field.
Peter Dans joined MDS in 2007 from Nortel Networks, where he spent more than 15 years in global finance leadership roles, including positions in North America, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines.
Related Content
PlasmidFactory founder Dr. Martin Schleef honoured with the NRW Innovation Award 2025
The founder and long-standing CEO of PlasmidFactory, Dr. Martin Schleef, was honoured in Düsseldorf with …
AAX Biotech announces collaboration for cardiovascular antibody therapy
Swedish biotech firm AAX Biotech has entered a new collaboration focused on the development of …
Research finds tablet effective in slowing progression of Alzheimer’s disease over 18 months
TauRx Pharmaceutics reports that hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) could be an oral treatment for slowing the …
