
Vertex taps longtime commercial lead to fill two-year COO vacancy; Nancy Thornberry set for different role at Kallyope with an old friend from Merck waiting in the wings
For the first time in two years, Vertex has a COO.
The cystic fibrosis drugmaker announced Wednesday that Stuart Arbuckle, who has led the company’s commercial efforts since 2012, has been appointed to run operations as well. In doing so, Arbuckle fills a void opened two years ago when, after an investigation, longtime executive Ian Smith was abruptly fired for “personal behavior” that violated Vertex’s code of conduct. Details of the violation, which also cost Smith high-profile board seats at other biotechs, have never been made public.
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