Silence Therapeutics plc

Management Reports • Nov 18, 2013

National Storage Mechanism | Additional information

You don't have Javascript enabled. For full functionality this page requires javascript to be enabled.

RNS Number : 2102T

Silence Therapeutics PLC

18 November 2013

Silence Therapeutics plc

Directorate and senior management changes, appointments to the Scientific Advisory Board

18 November 2013

Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence" or the "Company") announces today a number of changes to the Board of the Company and to its senior management.

Board changes

Jerry Randall will be stepping down as Executive Chairman of Silence, with immediate effect. He will be succeeded by Simon Sturge, a current non-executive director of the Company as Chairman, in a non-executive capacity.

The Company also announces the appointment of Dr Alastair Riddell and Dr Stephen Parker as independent non-executive directors.

Dr Alastair Riddell, age 64, has over 30 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotech industries. Between 2000 and 2010 he was a main board member of the Bioindustry Association of Great Britain. He was chief executive of Stem Cell Sciences plc, 2007 to 2009, Pharmagene plc, 1998 to 2005, and of Paradigm Therapeutics Limited, 2005 to 2007.

Dr Stephen Parker, age 55, is executive chairman of Cantab Biopharmaceuticals and a partner in Celtic Pharma Holdings Advisors.  His career in the healthcare and pharma sector spans over 30 years, including six in City in advisory roles and two years as finance director of Oxford Glycosciences plc.

The Board Committees will be chaired as follows:

-       Remuneration: Alastair Riddell

-       Nominations: Simon Sturge

-       Audit: Stephen Parker

Management changes

Annie Cheng, previously Director of Corporate Development, is appointed Chief Operating Officer. In her new role she will co-ordinate the work of the commercial team in London with the scientists in Berlin.

Klaus Giese will be retiring from his role as Chief Scientific Officer, to be replaced by Jörg Kaufmann. Jörg was a co-founder with Klaus of Atugen, the company which became Silence Therapeutics AG.

Scientific Advisory Board

Silence is pleased to announce the strengthening of its Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB"). The new SAB will work closely with Silence, with each member bringing significant experience and expertise within specialist areas of focus as noted below:

Existing members:

-      Professor Detlef Schuppen (University of Mainz) in the field of fibrosis of the liver

-      Professor Massimo Pinzani (University College London) in the field of hepatology (focus on liver)

Additional members:

-      Dr Trevor Littlewood (University of Cambridge) in the field of oncology

-      Dr Sascha David (Hannover Medical School) in the field of acute lung injury

-      Professor Justin Stebbing (Imperial College) in the field of oncology

-      Professor Gerhard Winter (University of Munich) in the field of chemistry

Ali Mortazavi said: "Today marks a sad day in the history of Silence Therapeutics. Dr Giese co-founded this company in 1999 and has navigated the science, in sometimes extremely challenging circumstances, to a point where we have a world class set of assets to take advantage of RNA based therapeutics.  His contribution to this company and the profound science of gene silencing has been immense. Change is an inevitable phenomenon in any organisation and this is without doubt the most appropriate time for Klaus to embark on the next stage of his career. We wish him the very best.

"I also want to thank Jerry for his contribution to the company. His experience, advice and support during this period of enormous change have been invaluable. We wish Jerry the very best in his role as CEO of Venture Life.

"I welcome Stephen and Alastair to the Board. We will benefit from their tremendous experience as we enter this exciting phase of development of the Company."

Disclosures:

Dr Riddell is also a director of:

AJR & Associates Limited; and

DefiniGen Limited

In the last five years Mr Riddell has been a director of:

Pro-Cure Therapeutics Limited;

Bio Industry Association;

Stem Cell Sciences plc;

Asset Realisation Co. Limited; and

XR Biosciences Limited

Dr Parker is also a director of:

Bannockton Limited

sp2 Consulting Limited

Linked to, or subsidiaries of, Celtic Pharma GP Limited:

Celtic Pharma Development UK plc

Xenova Group Limited

Xenova Limited

Linked to, or subsidiaries of, Celtic Pharma Holdings GP Limited:

Cantab Biopharmaceuticals Limited

Dialog Devices Limited

Novacta Biosystems Limited

Celtic Pharma Holdings Advisors LLP

In the last five years Mr Parker has been a director of:

Rockmasters Limited

Rockmasters (UK) Limited

Rockmasters (Oxon/Bucks) Limited

Beehive Capital Fopef Advisors LLP

Linked to, or subsidiaries of, Celtic Pharma GP Limited:

Celtic Pharma Management Services Europe Limited

Celtic Pharma Development Services Europe Limited

Phogen Limited

Oncosense Limited

Xenova Biomedix Limited

Xenovaks Limited

Xenova Research Limited

Xenova OX-400 Limited

Linked to, or subsidiaries of, Celtic Pharma Holdings GP Limited:

Celtic Pharma Holdings Advisors 3 LLP

Pro Bono 810 Group plc

Pro Bono 810 Entrepreneur Limited

No further disclosures are required under Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules.

For further information please contact:

Silence Therapeutics plc Ali Mortazavi, Chief Executive	+44 (0)333 988 0140 [email protected]
Timothy Freeborn, Finance Director	[email protected]
Annie Cheng, Chief Operating Officer	[email protected]
Canaccord Genuity Limited	+44 (0)20 7523 8350
Lucy Tilley Dr Julian Feneley Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

BOAUVVNROSAAAAA