CHESHIRE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN) today announced the
appointments of David R. Brennan, M. Michele Burns and Christopher J.
Coughlin to the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately.
With the appointments announced today, 10 of Alexion's 11 directors are
independent.
"David, Michele and Chris bring significant commercial, financial, risk
management and operational expertise to the Board, and, following on the
May 2014 Board appointment of Jack Mollen, further enhance Alexion's
corporate governance. Their global operational expertise and experience
serving on the Boards of other multinational organizations will be
valuable to our growing business and we are pleased to welcome them to
the Alexion Board of Directors," said Max Link, Ph.D., Chairman of
Alexion's Board of Directors.
"Over the past two decades Alexion has grown from a biotech startup to
one of the industry's leading global companies. David, Michele and Chris
are accomplished executives who will bring even more diverse
perspectives and experiences to our Board as Alexion continues to expand
and fulfill our mission of serving patients with devastating diseases in
approximately 50 countries," said Leonard Bell, M.D., Chief Executive
Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alexion's three new Directors are:
David R. Brennan - Mr. Brennan, 60, most recently served as Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Director of AstraZeneca PLC, one of the
world's largest pharmaceutical companies, from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Brennan
worked for AstraZeneca in increasing roles of responsibility from 1992
through 2012, including as Executive Vice President of North America
from 2001 to 2006, and as Senior Vice President of Commercialization and
Portfolio Management from 1999 to 2001. Prior to the merger of Astra AB
and Zeneca Plc, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Planning
and Development of Astra Pharmaceuticals LP, the American subsidiary of
Astra AB. Mr. Brennan began his career in 1975 at Merck and Co. Inc.,
where he rose from Sales Representative in the U.S. Division to General
Manager of Chibret International, a French subsidiary of Merck. Mr.
Brennan currently serves on the Board of Directors of Innocoll, Inc. and
Insmed Incorporated, and previously served on the Board of Directors of
AstraZeneca PLC, Reed Elsevier PLC, and the Pharmaceutical Research &
Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). He received a BA in business
administration from Gettysburg College, where he is a member of the
Board of Trustees.
M. Michele Burns - Ms. Burns, 56, currently serves as Center
Fellow and Strategic Advisor, Stanford University Center on Longevity.
She served in senior executive roles with Marsh & McLennan Companies,
Inc. ("MMC"), including as Chief Executive Officer, Retirement Policy
Center sponsored by MMC from 2011 to 2014, Chairwoman and Chief
Executive Officer of Mercer LLC, a subsidiary of MMC, from 2006 to 2011,
and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MMC in 2006.
From 2004 to 2006, Ms. Burns served as Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial and Chief Restructuring Officer for Mirant Corporation. From
1999 to 2004 she worked in increasing roles of responsibility at Delta
Air Lines, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Delta from 2000 to 2004. Michele began her career with Arthur
Andersen, and over an 18-year tenure rose to Senior Partner, leading
Andersen's Southern Region Federal Tax Practice, heading its U.S.
Healthcare Tax Practice and its Southeastern Region Financial Services
Tax Practice, and serving on its Global Advisory Council. Ms. Burns
currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., and Circle Internet Financial, Ltd. She also
serves on the Executive Board and as Treasurer of the Elton John AIDS
Foundation. She previously served on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., Ivan Allen Company, and Orbitz, LLC. She received a BA in
business administration and a Master of Accountancy from the University
of Georgia.
Christopher J. Coughlin - Mr. Coughlin, 62, is currently a Senior
Advisor, McKinsey & Co., where he has served since 2012. He served as
Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Tyco International Ltd., a global
provider of diversified products, services and industries, from 2010 to
2012, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Tyco from 2005 to 2010 and during a period of significant international
growth and restructuring. Mr. Coughlin previously served at the
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. as Executive Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer from 2003 to 2004. From 1998 to 2003, he served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pharmacia
Corporation. From 1997 to 1998 he was President, International at
Nabisco Group Holdings and from 1996 to 1997 was Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Nabisco. From 1981 to 1996, Mr.
Coughlin held various positions with Sterling Winthrop Incorporated,
including Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Coughlin currently serves on the
Board of Directors of Actavis plc, Covidien, and Dun & Bradstreet. He
previously served on the Board of Directors of Forest Laboratories
(acquired by Actavis plc), Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., The
Interpublic Group of Companies, Monsanto Company, and Perrigo Company.
He received a BS in accounting from Boston College.
About Alexion
Alexion is a biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients with
severe and rare disorders through the innovation, development and
commercialization of life-transforming therapeutic products. Alexion is
the global leader in complement inhibition and has developed and markets
Soliris® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with PNH
and aHUS, two debilitating, ultra-rare and life-threatening disorders
caused by chronic uncontrolled complement activation. Soliris is
currently approved in nearly 50 countries for the treatment of PNH and
in nearly 40 countries for the treatment of aHUS. Alexion is evaluating
other potential indications for Soliris in additional severe and
ultra-rare disorders beyond PNH and aHUS, and is developing other highly
innovative biotechnology product candidates, including asfotase alfa,
across multiple therapeutic areas. This press release and further
information about Alexion Pharmaceuticals can be found at: www.alexionpharma.com.
[ALXN-G]
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Media:
Irving
Adler, 203-271-8210
Executive Director, Corporate Communications
or
Kim
Diamond, 203-439-9600
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
or
Investors:
Elena
Ridloff, 203-699-7722
Executive Director, Investor Relations
Source: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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