Acucela Appoints Biotechnology Industry Veteran and Former Pharmaceutical Executive, Brian O'Callaghan, as Its New President and Chief Operating Officer and Interim CFO; Ryo Kubota, MD, PhD, to Remain in His Role as Chairman and CEO
Business Wire - Mon Sep 08, 7:15PM CDT
Acucela Inc. (TOKYO:4589), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in discovering and developing novel therapeutics to treat and slow the progression of sight-threatening ophthalmic diseases, today announced that after a long and thoughtful strategic planning process to recruit a new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Acucela has appointed Brian O'Callaghan, who currently sits on Acucela's Board of Directors, to the newly created position, effective immediately. Ryo Kubota, MD, PhD, who is also Acucela's Founder, will remain as Acucela's Chairman of the Board (Chairman) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In a separate development, Acucela's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), David Lowrance, will be leaving the Company for family reasons. As a result of Mr. Lowrance's departure, Mr. O'Callaghan will also assume the role of Interim CFO. An active search is underway to appoint a new CFO. Mr. O'Callaghan brings to Acucela over 25 years of leadership experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including senior positions at Bayer, Merck, Novartis, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Sangart. He will report directly into Dr. Kubota.