Paris Panayiotopoulos has moved from EMD Serono to join Ariad as its new president and CEO.
Panayiotopoulos succeeds Ariad’s founder, chairman and CEO Harvey Berger who is retiring from the Cambridge, US-based biotech company he set up 23 years ago.
Berger will continue at Ariad for a time, serving as a special advisor to its board and new CEO Panayiotopoulos as part of the transition process.
Wayne Wilson, lead director for Ariad, said: “Paris is a dynamic leader with a proven ability to set vision, define strategy, build culture and align teams to successfully execute against objectives.
“He has the necessary skills to bring a renewed focus to company execution as we work together to explore all paths in maximising value for shareholders.”
Prior to his time at EMD Serono, where he was its president, and its parent company Merck KGaA Panayiotopoulos was at Lilly.
Panayiotopoulos said: “I am very pleased to be joining ARIAD at this exciting time. Together with our passionate and highly capable employees, I fully expect that we will maximise the company’s commercial potential and further strengthen its pipeline.”