Vertex chief to step down; names Jeffrey Leiden as new leader

pharmafile | December 19, 2011 | Appointment | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |  Abbott, Vertex 

Vertex has named a new chief executive to succeed Matthew Emmens, who will retire early next year.

He will be succeeded by Jeffrey Leiden as president and chief executive, effective from 1 February. 

Dr Leiden, 56, a managing director at venture-capital firm Clarus Ventures, has been a Vertex director since 2009 and previously served in leadership roles at Abbott. 

Emmens, 60, will move to executive chairman and serve in that role through to May, Vertex said. At that time he will retire from full-time employment at Vertex, but continue as a director.

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Emmens previously led Shire and served in executive posts at Merck, and was also involved in Merck’s joint venture with AstraZeneca.

Under Emmens, Vertex won regulatory approval for its potential blockbuster hep C treatment Incivek in the US earlier this year. 

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