Charles River Laboratories Announces Organizational Changes to Enhance Global Capabilities

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. announced organisational changes that are designed to continue to improve the company’s operating efficiency across its global portfolio and enhance its ability to meet the needs of its clients. These changes represent the next step in Charles River’s continuing effort to position the company as the partner of choice for early-stage drug development and to drive future growth.

James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “In a market environment that is rapidly changing, we have continued to refine and enhance our competitive position through a combination of portfolio expansion, organisational changes, efficiency initiatives, improved data infrastructure and increasing scientific expertise. The changes we are announcing ... are the logical evolution of these ongoing efforts, which we believe will ensure our clients a consistent and superior experience across our global organisation. Furthermore, our intensified emphasis on efficiency will enable us to meet our clients’ expectations while maintaining and enhancing our reputation for service, responsiveness and scientific excellence.”

Enhanced Efficiency Initiatives

The organisational changes are designed to further enhance the company’s worldwide productivity initiatives and promote the global management of its Research Models and Services (RMS) and Preclinical Services (PCS) businesses. The respective organisational changes are as follows:

Jörg Geller, DVM, PhD, previously Corporate Executive Vice President and President, European & Asian Operations, will now directly oversee a global initiative to enhance efficiency and drive increased productivity across all of Charles River’s businesses worldwide. In his new role, Dr Geller will assume the title of Corporate Executive Vice President, Global Productivity and Efficiency. Dr Geller will be responsible for intensifying the company’s focus on driving productivity, while retaining its reputation for service, responsiveness and scientific excellence. This has become increasingly important to continue to meet clients’ expectations and maintain Charles River’s strong competitive position. Dr Geller will lead a cross-sectional team of Charles River’s functional and business-unit leaders that will be tasked with the critical initiative to drive increased productivity and efficiency at an accelerated pace.

RMS and PCS Management Structure

In conjunction with Dr Geller assuming this new role, Davide Molho, DVM, previously Corporate Executive Vice President and President, North American Operations, will assume a broader range of responsibilities with global oversight of the RMS and PCS businesses. In his new role, Dr Molho will assume the title of Corporate Executive Vice President and President, Global Research Models & Services and Preclinical Services Operations. Dr Molho will be responsible for transitioning from a unified, regional business alignment, which was implemented in 2011, to a more fully integrated, global organisational structure across North America, Europe and Asia.

Colin Dunn, PhD, has been promoted to the position of Corporate Senior Vice President and General Manager, Research Models & Services, Europe and Asia. Dr Dunn was previously responsible for European RMS operations, and in his expanded role, will oversee all of the company’s RMS operations in Europe, Japan and China. Dr Dunn will report to Dr Molho, as will Dr Brian Bathgate, Corporate Senior Vice President, European Preclinical Services. Dr Bathgate will continue to oversee European preclinical operations, as well as global PCS Laboratory Services.

Dr Emily Hickey, who joined Charles River in October 2013 as Corporate Vice President, In Vivo Discovery Research Services, will now report directly to Mr Foster. This reporting relationship reflects the strategic importance of the Discovery Research Services business, as Dr Hickey helps drive the growth and expansion of this emerging outsourced service opportunity. This reporting change parallels the organizational structure that was previously established for the company’s Endotoxin and Microbial Detection business. Foster Jordan, Corporate Senior Vice President, Endotoxin & Microbial Detection, will continue to report directly to Mr Foster.

Mr Foster continued: “I am confident that the extensive experience and strategic leadership capabilities of these senior executives will contribute to the continued growth of Charles River.”