Bedminster, N.J., USA - December 17, 2013, Bedminster, N.J., USA - Amarin Corporation plc, a biopharmaceutical company, announced the appointment of current president, John F. Thero, as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2014.
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Mr. Thero will also be appointed to the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2014.
Mr. Thero joined Amarin in November 2009 and has more than 20 years of senior financial and operational management experience including over 15 years supporting the growth of life science companies.
Previously, Mr. Thero was Chief Financial Officer of Amarin Corporation. Prior to Amarin, Mr. Thero was the Chief Financial Officer at ViaCell, Inc., where he helped guide the company to its successful sale, and Abiomed, Inc., during its transition from a development-stage company into a commercial entity. Mr. Thero began his professional career at Arthur Andersen LLP, during which time he became a Certified Public Accountant.
Joseph S. Zakrzewksi announces his intention to retire as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amarin.
Mr. Zakrzewski joined Amarin in January 2010 as Executive Chairman. Mr. Zakrzewski has more than 20 years of industry experience, including significant contributions to Reliant Pharmaceuticals as Chief Operating Officer during the period when Omacor/Lovaza was successfully developed, launched, and marketed for reducing very high triglyceride levels, leading to its 2007 acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline.
In addition, Mr. Zakrzewski contributed 17 years of service to Eli Lilly & Company in a variety of capacities, including Vice President of Corporate Business Development where he had global responsibility for licensing activities. Mr. Zakrzewski will remain on the Board of Directors of Amarin.
In connection with Mr. Zakrzewski's retirement, Lars Ekman, who currently serves as Lead Independent Director, will become Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2014.
Dr. Ekman joined Amarin as a Non-Executive Director in November 2008 and was named Amarin's lead independent director in October 2011. With more than 28-years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Ekman is an Executive Partner of Sofinnova Ventures.
He previously served as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cebix Inc, and prior to that he was Executive Vice President and President of Global Research and Development of Elan Corporation plc from January 2001 to December 2007.
Prior to joining Elan, he was Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Schwarz Pharma AG from February 1997 to December 2000, and was previously employed in a variety of senior scientific and clinical functions at Pharmacia, now Pfizer.
He serves as Executive Chairman of Sophiris Bio Inc. (formerly Protox Therapeutics) as well as Chairman of Prothena Biosciences. Dr. Ekman also sits on the Board of Directors of Cebix Inc., InterMune, and Ocera Therapeutics. ■