ZURICH, Switzerland, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- ESBATech AG, a leading company in antibody fragment therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Martin Gertsch as Chief Financial Officer. Martin Gertsch replaces Thomas Loeser, who stepped down from the company as its Chief Financial Officer in December 2006 to pursue personal interests in the healthcare venture capital industry.
Mr. Gertsch brings ESBATech more than twenty years of international financial and operational experience in fast growing companies, most recently in the field of medical technology. As Chief Financial Officer, he will be responsible for working with the senior management team on overseeing the company’s growth, from both a financial and operational perspective.
Dominik Escher Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ESBATech AG commented, “We are delighted to welcome Martin to ESBATech’s senior management team. As ESBATech transitions to a clinical-stage company, Martin has the next level of corporate development leadership and the expertise we need, including strong financial, operations, investor relations and information technology management. His hands-on experience in managing growth for one of the most successful listed companies in Switzerland is an important asset to ESBATech.”
Dr. Escher continued, “We thank Thomas for his successful efforts in raising ESBATech’s corporate profile, particularly in the U.S., and for helping to secure the closing of our recent CHF 50M / USD 41M Series B financing round with an outstanding Venture Capital syndicate. We wish him all the best for the future and in his efforts to establish a life science-focused private equity investment vehicle.”
Mr. Gertsch, Chief Financial Officer of ESBATech AG commented, “I am excited by the opportunities that ESBATech offers. With a successful venture financing under its belt and a team of committed and experienced executives dedicated to advancing the company’s antibody fragment technology and products into the clinic, this is an exciting time to join. I look forward to working with Dominik and his management team.”
Mr. Gertsch is a seasoned Chief Financial Officer and management consultant with extensive experience in working with rapidly growing companies. As a senior financial professional, Mr. Gertsch chairs the audit committee of the Board of Directors of Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG, a Swiss biotechnology company with a recent successful IPO on the Swiss Stock Exchange. From 2002, to beginning of 2006, he was Chief Financial Officer of Straumann Group, a Swiss-based global leader in implant dentistry and oral tissue regeneration with a current market value of CHF 4.5 B / USD 3.75 B. He joined Straumann in 1997 as Head of Group Controlling and Reporting of Straumann Holding AG. From 1986 to 1997 Mr. Gertsch worked as Audit Engagement Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Basel, Switzerland. Mr. Gertsch, is a Swiss Certified Fiduciary and Swiss Certified Public Accountant. He has also completed several executive level development programs at IMD (International Institute for Management Development) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
About ESBATech AG
Privately-held ESBATech AG is a Zurich, Switzerland based drug discovery and development company focused on advancing antibody fragments for therapeutic applications. Current venture investors include SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures, HBM BioVentures, HBM BioCapital, Novartis Venture Fund, BioMedinvest and VI Partners. For more information about ESBATech, please visit, www.esbatech.com.
ESBATech AG
CONTACT: Europe, Dr. Dominik Escher, CEO of ESBATech AG, +41-44-733 49 00,or escher@esbatech.com ; or US, Donna L. LaVoie, +1-978-745-4200 X 103, ordlavoie@lavoiegroup.com, or Bryan Murphy, +1-978-745-4200 X 105, orbmurphy@lavoiegroup.com, both of LaVoie Group for ESBATech AG
Web site: http://www.esbatech.com/
