Thermo Fisher Scientific Expands Corporate Leadership Team

Rhea-AI Summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) announced a management change, with Alan Sachs transitioning to the role of chief medical officer and Karen E. Nelson appointed as chief scientific officer, effective August 2021. Sachs, who has been with the company since 2016, aims to enhance clinical strategy and support innovative product development. Nelson brings extensive experience from the J. Craig Venter Institute and a strong publication record. This leadership shift is designed to align R&D with evolving customer needs and bolster the company's commitment to advancing science.

Positive

• Leadership change aims to strengthen focus on clinical expertise.
• Alan Sachs' new role as CMO expected to enhance adoption of new technologies.
• Karen E. Nelson's extensive experience can drive innovative product development.

Negative

• Concerns about continuity as new leadership adjusts to their roles.
• Potential experience gap as a new CMO may require time to adapt.

WALTHAM, Mass., July 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today announced that Alan Sachs, who has served as chief scientific officer (CSO) since 2016, will assume the newly established role of chief medical officer (CMO) and will be succeeded by Karen E. Nelson, previously president of the J. Craig Venter Institute. Both will join the company leadership team in August 2021.

"As we continue expanding our capabilities for customers who develop groundbreaking medicines and diagnostics, we have a growing responsibility to support their efforts and serve science overall through our own innovations," said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Thermo Fisher. "With Alan in the newly created role of CMO and Karen joining as CSO, we are reinforcing our commitment to help customers push the boundaries of science and improve patient outcomes."

Alan Sachs is a physician-scientist who earned his medical and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford Medical School and has decades of experience supporting product development and clinical research in both therapeutics and diagnostics. In his new role, he will help identify and promote adoption of new technologies that benefit customers in the clinical space, and he will lead the company's medical affairs program.

"This is an exciting time in our industry, and the establishment of a chief medical office underscores the importance of clinical expertise and leadership to our customers," said Sachs. "I look forward to leading this effort and to working closely with Karen on the leadership team to ensure our scientific and clinical efforts are well aligned around future customer needs."

Karen E. Nelson joined Thermo Fisher on July 6. Nelson who pioneered the human microbiome field, received her Ph.D. from Cornell University. She has authored or co-authored more than 220 peer reviewed publications, edited three books and is currently editor-in-chief of the journals Microbial Ecology and the newly formed PNAS Nexus. Nelson is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.

"Our industry is experiencing a technological revolution, and Thermo Fisher is in a unique position to accelerate progress by working closely with its customers to ensure that R&D aligns with their future needs," said Nelson. "I am excited to join this talented team and work with customers to develop the next generation of products that will enable even greater discovery and advance science."

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $30 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 80,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information:
Ron O'Brien
Phone: 781-622-1242
E-mail: ron.obrien@thermofisher.com

Investor Contact Information:
Rafael Tejada
Phone:  781-622-1356
E-mail: rafael.tejada@thermofisher.com

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SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific

FAQ

What leadership changes occurred at Thermo Fisher Scientific on July 7, 2021?

Thermo Fisher announced that Alan Sachs will become chief medical officer, while Karen E. Nelson will join as chief scientific officer.

What is Alan Sachs' background in Thermo Fisher Scientific?

Alan Sachs has been with Thermo Fisher since 2016 as chief scientific officer and has a background as a physician-scientist.

Who is Karen E. Nelson and what expertise does she bring to Thermo Fisher Scientific?

Karen E. Nelson is the former president of the J. Craig Venter Institute, with significant contributions to the human microbiome field and extensive publication experience.

How might the leadership changes affect Thermo Fisher Scientific's direction?

The changes are aimed at aligning R&D with future customer needs and reinforcing the company's commitment to scientific innovation.