CORONA, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today the appointment of Gordon Munro, Ph.D., 57, to Senior Vice President, Quality Assurance. Dr. Munro replaces Donald Britt, who will be retiring later this year.
“We are extremely delighted to welcome Gordon to the Watson organization and to our senior management team,” began Allen Chao, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Gordon will bring great industry depth and perspective to our quality organization. Based on his extensive experience in both the industry and the regulatory arena, we believe his leadership can add tremendously to our quality operations,” he said.
“Don Britt infused our processes, and our people, with lasting improvements for which we are most appreciative. While he will be missed, we wish Don a happy and healthy retirement,” added Dr. Chao.
Dr. Munro brings to Watson a unique blend of industry and regulatory experience. His notable contributions in the industry led to an officer appointment with the UK Medicines Control Agency (MCA). During the past seven years, he has held the position of Director, Inspection and Enforcement Division of the United Kingdom Medicines Control Agency, responsible for all inspections related to Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Distribution Practices, Good Laboratory Practices, and Good Clinical Practices; legislation enforcement; UK medicines testing schemes; the classification of borderline substances and management of the British Pharmacopoeia; and all policy matters relating to these operations. Most recently, he was Director of Inspection and Enforcement, and Acting Head of Medicines at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), recently formed by the merger of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and Medical Devices Agency (MDA).
Prior to the MHRA, Dr. Munro was with GlaxoSmithKline for over 25 years. He started his career in research before holding QA/QC positions of growing responsibility for numerous divisions, including Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Glaxo Manufacturing Services, as well as several years in Glaxo’s International Quality Assurance Division. In his last role, he was Director of Quality and Compliance, Glaxo Wellcome Operations in the UK.
As Senior Vice President, Quality Assurance for Watson, Dr. Munro will be responsible for all quality programs, ensuring a coordinated and integrated approach to quality at all of Watson’s facilities. In this role, he will report directly to Ian McInnes, Ph.D., Watson’s Executive Vice President, Supply Chain, and with respect to certain compliance matters, will report directly to Dr. Chao.
Dr. Munro has a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Masters in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland; and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the Council for National Academic Awards. A national and international lecturer and author of numerous published scientific papers, Dr. Munro is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Corona, CA, is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical products. Watson pursues a growth strategy combining internal product development, strategic alliances and collaborations and synergistic acquisitions of products and businesses.
This and past press releases of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are available at Watson’s Web site at http://www.watsonpharm.com/ .
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CONTACT: Patty Eisenhaur (Investors), +1-909-493-5611, or Chris Eso(Media), +1-909-493-4013, both of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.watsonpharm.com/
