Ablynx splitting CEO, chairman roles
Ablynx N.V. (Euronext:ABLX) said it plans to separate the chairman and CEO roles at its next shareholder meeting on Nov. 7. The nanobody company said it will name Peter Fellner chairman, while Edwin Moses, currently chairman and CEO, will remain CEO. Ablynx said combining the roles of chairman and CEO "made sense" during the early development of the company because of Moses' relationships with VCs, but that as VCs are departing the company's board and being replaced with independent directors from industry that it is the "perfect time" to appoint an independent chairman.
Fellner is chairman of drug delivery company Consort Medical plc (LSE:CSRT); ophthalmic company Optos plc (LSE:OPTS); cancer, neurology and inflammation play Vernalis plc (LSE:VER); and neurology company Biotie Therapies Corp. (HSE:BTH1V). Fellner is also vice-chair of cancer company Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTX), which Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) is acquiring. ...