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ARTICLE | Company News

Rib-X names new CEO

April 3, 2013 11:32 PM UTC

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals Inc. (New Haven, Conn.) named Chair Mary Szela as CEO on Wednesday, and made two new additions to the company's management team. Szela is former SVP of global strategic marketing and services of the pharmaceutical products group of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) -- now AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV). She replaces Mark Leuchtenberger, who left Rib-X to "pursue other opportunities." Thomas Koestler, a director, was appointed chairman to replace Szela, who will remain a director. Koestler is the executive director at Vatera Holdings, Rib-X's majority shareholder.

Additionally, Rib-X hired Eugene Sun as EVP of R&D and Michael Kenston as chief commercial officer -- both newly created positions. Sun was corporate VP of global pharmaceutical clinical development at AbbVie. Kenston was VP of commercial analysis at Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Irving, Texas), which is partnered with Abbott under a 2010 deal. ...