NEWTON, Mass., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- BBK Healthcare, Inc. (BBK) today announced the appointment of five individuals to key posts within the agency as part of an internal reorganization to meet the demands of an increasingly global marketplace. These key posts will be held by Matthew Kibby (European Operations), Karen Rumrill (North American Operations), Linda Wolf (Emerging Markets and Services), Rob Laurens (EP Studio), and Victor Bradley (Global Technology). On their own, these individuals are proven leaders and innovators in the field of patient recruitment; together they represent one of the largest and most experienced management teams in the industry today. Averaging more than seven years with the company, each one, through their commitment and accomplishments, has played an instrumental role in shaping BBK and contributing to its present day success as a leading marketing consulting firm for the clinical R&D segment of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. As part of their newly assumed responsibilities, they will spearhead efforts to address the opportunities and challenges posed by the expanding marketplace.
“These five individuals have made outstanding contributions to the company and helped to define and sophisticate the field of patient recruitment,” comments Bonnie A. Brescia, BBK founding principal. “With this key leadership team in place, BBK strengthens its ability to meet the business, operational, and technological challenges of the global clinical development marketplace,” adds Brescia.
A principal outcome of the restructure is the formation of two key business units: European Operations and North American Operations. Matthew Kibby, a native of the United Kingdom and a seasoned patient recruitment professional, will spearhead the European Operations division, directing worldwide patient recruitment, enrollment, and retention campaigns. He will be responsible for BBK’s expanding market reach into global clinical studies and guiding strategic approaches to the multidimensional challenge of recruitment across world regions. Kibby developed and will continue to supervise BBK’s global enrollment feasibility model by which recruitment campaigns for any country or region are created. In addition, Kibby will manage strategic alliances with European partners and will serve as an industry expert on global regulations and the EU Directive (2001/20/EC).
North American Operations will be led by Karen Rumrill, an operations expert with long-standing experience in budget management, quality control, and campaign implementation. Under Rumrill’s guidance, BBK’s North American Operations will continue to mature and refine.
Linda Wolf will lead the Emerging Markets and Services division, overseeing BBK’s continuous analysis of industry trends while contributing to the development of innovative services and approaches. She will direct the formation of an international healthcare alliance, with the goal of increasing global public awareness and understanding of clinical trial participation. In addition, Wolf will supervise the development of BBK products and services, including TrialCentralNet(SM) and Good Recruitment Practice(SM). During her tenure at BBK, she has helped to shape the discipline of study relations, which redefines patient recruitment as an integral process, not a linear step, in clinical study planning.
“Sponsors rely on BBK to be ahead of the curve when it comes to new products and services needed to enroll patients into clinical studies,” says Joan F. Bachenheimer, BBK founding principal. “It’s a dynamic field requiring continuous analysis of the market and nimble responses that advance techniques in emerging clinical development hot spots, such as Asia or Latin America,” adds Bachenheimer.
In other promotions, Rob Laurens will take over full management of EP Studio, BBK’s in-house design and production vendor resource, specializing in providing cost-effective creative services. As BBK’s principal copywriter, Laurens brings strategic and creative talents and expertise to this position. Victor Bradley will assume responsibility for global technology, establishing and directing the strategic long-term goals, policies and procedures for BBK’s information technology sector. Bradley brings extensive knowledge of current and emerging technology to this position, as well as 21 years of experience serving as an information systems and personnel supervisor in the U.S. Army.
In addition to the naming of these five key posts, BBK is formally announcing the establishment of “The BBK International Alliance.” The Alliance will consist of Eliot Marx, an Amsterdam-based organizational development consultant; Mitham Bryant Smith, a strategic advertising company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom; and BBK. The Alliance will provide clients with comprehensive global services, including international research and analysis, European focus groups, and project management consultation.
“When planning and conducting clinical studies, patients must come first,” comments Bachenheimer. “Understanding their needs, and translating the information into study design and patient enrollment is a core competency of this alliance. So is the crucial skill of creating and supporting the study community -- the sponsor, CRO, sites, and other suppliers helping to conduct the study,” continues Bachenheimer.
“BBK has mastered the complexity of marketing to discrete regions of North America and was looking for a European agency with comparable skills and commitment to the art of marketing,” states Nic Mitham, Managing Director of Mitham Bryant Smith. “Our company matches BBK’s high work-ethic standards and brings understanding and sensitivity for the nuances of communicating with European audiences. We look forward to advancing the discipline of patient recruitment in Europe and growing this alliance through the efforts of BBK’s Emerging Markets and Services group.”
Founded in 1983, BBK Healthcare, Inc., is a marketing consulting firm for the global clinical R&D segment of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, helping to accelerate time to market for new medicines and treatments. BBK has successfully supported hundreds of clinical studies, from Phase I through IV and other late phase trials, in all major therapeutic areas. No other patient enrollment and retention professional resource understands the needs of the clinical project team, and works as hard to create an effective partnership with this team as BBK. With BBK, the priorities of the scientific research are seamlessly combined with a marketing perspective. This is arrived at through strict adherence to research and analytic methodologies created and perfected by BBK during its long history of service to the clinical trial industry. For information, please visit http://www.bbkhealthcare.com/.
Elizabeth Gargill BBK Healthcare, Inc. Phone: (617) 630-5513 E-mail: egargill@bbkhealthcare.com
BBK Healthcare, Inc.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Gargill of BBK Healthcare, Inc., +1-617-630-5513,egargill@bbkhealthcare.com
Web site: http://www.bbkhealthcare.com/
