cAgain we see evidence that RBM is beginning to turn around, the changes in management are most positive IMHO and indicate there is a future for this company.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Response Biomedical Corporation (TSX: RBM, OTCBB:RPBIF) announced today the appointment Dr. David Wang of Orbimed Asia to the Board of Directors of Response Biomedical, the resignation of Dr. Jonathan Wang as a Director of Response Biomedical, and the promotion of two executives to leadership positions in the Company.
Board Changes
Pursuant to the OrbiMed agreement dated June 27, 2010, Response granted OrbiMed Private Investments III, LP two designees on the Response Board of Directors. Dr. David Wang has been appointed to the Board of Directors as of October 11, 2011. “Dr. David Wang brings a wealth of experience to our company and will undoubtedly make tremendous contributions to our success going forward”, said Dr. Peter Thompson, Executive Chairman and interim CEO.
Dr. David Wang is a Senior Managing Director of Orbimed Asia. Most recently, Dr. Wang was a Managing Director at WI Harper Group, responsible for healthcare investment in China. Previously, he served as Head of Business Development at Siemens Medical Solutions, where he directed corporate strategy and new businesses in molecular diagnostics and diagnostic imaging. Dr. David Wang was co-founder and Executive Vice President at First Genetic Trust, a personalized medicine company. During his tenure at Bristol-Myers Squibb, he was Chairman of The SNP Consortium Management Committee where he was responsible for strategy and management of the consortium. The SNP Consortium is the first group of its kind formed by pharmaceutical and technology industries as well as academia and charities to support the development of personalized medicine. Dr. David Wang received his M.D. from Peking University Medical School. He earned his doctorate in Developmental Biology from California Institute of Technology.
In order to pursue new business ventures, Dr. Jonathan Wang has resigned as a Director of Response Biomedical, and from his position with Orbimed. “We would like to thank Jonathan for his many contributions to both organizations”, stated Dr. Peter Thompson, “very importantly, he has agreed to continue to assist Response on a consulting basis as we establish our presence in China and search for China based full-time leadership”.
Promotions
Management leadership at Response has been augmented and strengthened by the elevation of two key contributors to leadership roles in the Company. Dr. Barbara Kinnaird and Patricia Massitti have been promoted to VP, Operations, and VP, Administration and Corporate Communication respectively. Peter Thompson lauded “their dynamic initiative during the last year which has resulted in substantial efficiencies in virtually every department at Response. It is exactly this dynamism along with our expansion into growing markets that gives us the confidence going forward.”
Dr. Kinnaird joined Response Biomedical in 2004. She has played a critical role in improving operational processes and efficiencies, and will continue to take a leadership role in advancing innovations in our product lines. As well, she will maintain a strong leadership position on the senior management team. She has over 20 years of research and business experience primarily in the field of infectious diseases and Point of Care (POC). She has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia at the B.C. Children’s Hospital in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Kinnaird not only has the in-depth technical knowledge of multiple biological systems but also the extensive understanding of the patient care setting required to succeed in the development and production of innovative and reliable POC products.
Patricia Massitti joined Response in 2009. She has engaged in an essential leadership function in the reorganization of various departments at Response and in streamlining the integration of related administrative processes. She will continue to have a fundamental leadership role on the senior management team. She has over 21 years of business and Human Resource experience and has worked for a range of companies including start up technology businesses such as Zedi Canada and Hostway, to major multi-national corporations including Baker Hughes, and a multinational oil & gas service company, Intrawest, and RBC.