RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 3, 2004 - John P. Richert, a senior executive with more than 25 years of business development, licensing and commercialization experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been named vice president of the Business and Technology Development Program at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
Richert will direct activities that promote economic development in North Carolina by encouraging the start-up and growth of biotechnology companies. He will oversee and manage the Center's loan programs, venture capital investments, and technology transfer and business-development activities.
"Over the last fourteen years I have admired, and benefited from, what the Biotechnology Center has been able to do for emerging North Carolina biotechnology companies," Richert said. "I am pleased and honored that I may now be able to take the management, business development and licensing skills that I have accrued over this time to help future emerging biotechnology companies grow and prosper."
Richert succeeds Paul Wood, who retired in August 2003. He will report to Dr. Ken Tindall, senior vice president for science and business development.
"John is a seasoned business professional," said Tindall. "His entrepreneurial experience, combined with his understanding of technology transfer, early-stage company development and company financing, add to the business service capabilities here at the Center. John is a creative individual who understands the 'art of the deal.' North Carolina is fortunate to have such a talented individual leading its biotechnology business-development efforts."
Before joining the Center, Richert was vice president of business development at Aeolus Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Research Triangle Park. Previously he was director of market development at Sphinx Pharmaceuticals Corp. in Durham, director of market development for new products at Schering-Plough Corp. in Kenilworth, N.J., and assistant product manager at Pfizer Laboratories in New York.
Richert has a M.B.A. degree in pharmaceutical marketing and finance from Fairleigh-Dickinson University and a bachelor's degree in French and applied linguistics from Georgetown University. He is fiuent in French.
Richert is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development and is a founding member of the Bio-Pharma Business Development Association. In 2002 he received the Corporate Partnership Award from the North Carolina chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation established by the State and supported by the General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business and education statewide.
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Editors: A color photo of John Richert is available for downloading at www.ncbiotech.org/assets/images/media_images/johnrichert.jpg.
Contact: Barry Teater, director of corporate communications, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 919-541-9366.
