Biogen Idec Nabs Doug Williams as R&D Head, Steve Holtzman as BD Chief To Fill Out Management Team
Summary
Scoring two seasoned executives in key departments represents the latest step in the new direction Biogen has taken since Scangos took the reins last summer.Biogen has been operating without an executive head of R&D since the departure of Cecil Pickett in2009, at a time when billionaire investor Carl Icahn was complaining mightily about the company’s failure to innovate in recent years.He was the chief technology officer at Seattle-based Immunex when it developed etanercept (Enbrel), a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that’s expected to generate $8 billion in worldwide sales by 2014.Steve is one of the most thoughtful and creative business people I know and has demonstrated over the years the ability to build great organizations and create innovative collaborative structures that meet the needs of both partners.Steve and Doug represent the completion of what I believe is now an excellent management team.” Michael Lytton, who had been in charge of Biogen’s business development efforts, will be leaving the company.