Biotech startup XO1 Ltd. (Cambridge, UK) has appointed Richard Mason (right) as CEO. He joins the company from BTG plc, where he was head of business development and strategy.

“We are delighted to have Richard lead the company,” says Index Ventures' David Grainger, chairman and outgoing interim CEO of XO1. “It is a testament to the huge potential of ichorcumab, our lead program, that we have been able to attract such a talented and experienced executive team.” XO1 has also announced the following additions to its scientific advisory board: Richard Lawn, professor of medicine at Stanford and vice president, discovery research at CV Therapeutics; Jeff Weitz, professor of medicine and biochemistry at McMaster University and director of the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre; Harry Buller, professor of medicine at the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam; Ken Mann, professor of biochemistry at the University of Vermont; J. Evan Sadler, director of the division of hematology, professor of medicine and professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; Ander Cohen, consultant physician at King's College Hospital; Peter DiBattiste of Janssen Pharmaceutica; and John Lepore of GlaxoSmithKline.

Good Start Genetics (Cambridge, MA, USA) has announced the appointment of R. Mark Adams as chief information officer. He joins the company from Bridgewater Associates, where he developed unique data warehousing and machine learning approaches to support the world's largest hedge fund. Previously, he was a principal with Booz Allen Hamilton and vice president of bioinformatics at Variagenics.

Mirati Therapeutics (San Diego) has named Isan Chen chief medical and development officer. Chen was most recently chief medical officer of Aragon Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Craig Johnson has been appointed to the board of directors of Mirati. He has previously served as chairman of the audit committee on the boards of multiple biotech companies including Ardea Biosciences and Adamis Pharmaceuticals and as CFO of TorreyPines Therapeutics and NovaDel Pharma.

American Cancer Society (Atlanta) has named Sally G. Cowal senior vice president, global health. Cowal is a former US ambassador and US foreign service officer. She previously helped found the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS in Switzerland and served as its director for external relations and was the founder, president and CEO of the nonprofit Cuba Policy Foundation.

Christian Groendahl (right) has been appointed CEO and David Chiswell has been named chairman of Kymab (Cambridge, UK). Groendahl has nearly 20 years of pharma industry experience, previously serving as CSO of Zealand Pharma and in many roles over a long career with Novo Nordisk. Chiswell was previously a nonexecutive director of Kymab. Both men are succeeding Andrew Sandham, who is stepping down as chairman and CEO.

Genomatica (San Diego) has announced the addition of Just Jansz to its board of directors. Jansz has 30 years of international experience, formerly serving as president of technology at Basell and LyondellBasell and in technical and managerial roles at Shell. He is also the founder and director of Expertise Beyond Borders, a global business and technology consultancy for the chemical, process and materials industries.

Kyle Kuvalanka (right) has been named chief business officer of Blueprint Medicines (Cambridge, MA, USA). He brings to Blueprint nearly 20 years of business and strategy experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, joining the company after more than 11 years at Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, where he most recently served as vice president, business development and corporate strategy.

Jeff Raikes has announced his resignation as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Seattle) after a five-year stint, to pursue other interests, including his own Raikes Foundation. He will remain in his position until a successor is named.

Infinity Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, MA, USA) has announced that David A. Roth has been appointed senior vice president, clinical development and medical affairs, a newly created role. Roth joins Infinity following more than ten years with Pfizer and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. At Pfizer, he most recently served as a vice president in the company's oncology business unit.

The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation (New York) awarded its annual prizes to the following: in the category of basic medical research, Richard H. Scheller of Genentech and Thomas C. Südhof of Stanford University for their study of neurotransmission, the process by which nerve cells communicate with other cells in the brain; for clinical medical research, Graeme M. Clark of the University of Melbourne, Ingeborg Hochmair of Med-El in Innsbruck, Austria, and Blake S. Wilson of Duke University for developing the modern cochlear implant, a device that allows profoundly deaf individuals to hear and speak; and for public service, Bill and Melinda Gates were honored for “spurring initiatives and research that tackle some of the planet's toughest health problems.” The winners will share the cash prize of $250,000 in each category.

Cell-therapy company apceth (Munich) has announced the appointment of Stefanos Theoharis as chief business officer, a newly created role. He joins apceth from Antisense Pharma, where he was head of business development. Before that, he held the position of business development director with Roche.