As Shire Closes on Baxalta, David Meek Takes the Helm at Ipsen
July 11, 2016
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
Paris-based Ipsen announced that David Meek will join the company as chief executive officer effective July 18. He will replace Marc de Garidel, the current chairman and chief executive officer.
In mid-February, the company’s board decided to make changes to its corporate governance, separating the functions of the chairman and the chief executive officer. These changes were made after consulting with its Nominations & Governance Committee.
De Garidel will take on the role of non-executive chairman and will remain on the board of directors. He will also advise Ipsen’s controlling holding company, Mayroy.
In February, Ipsen’s board also jettisoned its deputy chief executive officer, Christel Bories, after “disagreements over strategy,” although what those disagreements were have not been disclosed.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Meek, an American national, was executive vice president and president of the oncology division of Baxalta . Baxalta was recently acquired by Shire . Baxalta spun off from Baxter International on July 1, 2015. Meek formed the oncology division and developed its portfolio through various strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
Meek began his career at Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceutica from 1989 to 2004. He then joined Novartis in 2005, where he headed the global business franchise for its respiratory and dermatology business in Basel, Switzerland, then became president and chief executive officer of its division in Canada, and then the head of oncology for Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, based in Milan, Italy. From 2012 to 2014, Meek was chief commercial officer of Endocyte .
As chief executive officer of Ipsen, he will be based at the company’s headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt.
“I am very honored and excited to join Ipsen as CEO, a high growth pharmaceutical group with significant opportunities for increased leadership in specialty and primary care,” Meek said in a statement. “I am proud and motivated to lead the Ipsen employees whose tremendous skills and commitment to patients are well respected. My ambition is to focus on patients and product innovation, lead the teams, and continue the path of success started by Marc de Garidel in 2010.”
Meek is adding some stability at the top of the company, and, as the company states, the “continued growth and innovative pipeline development of the specialty and primary care businesses.” He will also be working on expanding the company’s market presence globally, especially into the U.S. and China markets.
“I am delighted to welcome David Meek to our group,” said de Garidel in a statement. “David is a visionary leader with global expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. His experience in the USA, Europe, and international markets as well as his deep knowledge of oncology will be invaluable. David also has significant success with business development that will be important for our strategic objectives. Ipsen is currently performing well and could accelerate its growth in the coming years with the launch of Cabometyx in advanced kidney cancer and Telotristat etiprate in neuroendocrine tumors, in addition to strong prospects for Somatuline and Dysport with the new recently approved indications.”
De Garidel went on to say, “David’s priorities will be to continue the Group’s international expansion, consolidate our leadership in a number of targeted diseases and strengthen our pipeline. I am confident that David will bring to our team new views, a new momentum and contribute to accelerating the sustainable growth of the group.”