NCBiotech Names New President and CEO

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Douglas L. Edgeton, NCBiotech's senior vice president for financial planning and development with extensive experience in healthcare and economic development, will be the Center's next president and chief executive officer, the Board of Directors announced today.

"Doug's experience demonstrates he knows how to foster an environment that drives small-company growth and job creation," said John Atkins, chairman of the Board of Directors.

Wednesday's announcement caps a six-month search led by board Vice Chairman Jack Cecil.

"Doug's broad background, knowledge of the Center and connections in the state's life science and health community will be key as the Center continues to facilitate job creation and investment in this high-value sector," said Cecil, who is president of Biltmore Farms.

Edgeton was the staff lead on the top-to-bottom examination of NCBiotech operations, requested by the General Assembly and led by former chairman and CEO of GlaxoWellcome Robert A. Ingram. The study documented changes to the Center's structure, staffing and programs following budget cuts. Ingram's committee recommended additional funding for the Center, and the General Assembly increased the Center's appropriation by $1 million this fiscal year.

Prior to joining NCBiotech in 2012, Edgeton was president of the Piedmont Triad Research Park and executive vice president for administration at Wake Forest Baptist Health. There he guided, from concept to completion, the redevelopment of two former Reynolds tobacco warehouses into the state-of-the-art Wake Forest Biotech Place.

Edgeton spent his early career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he held increasingly senior positions, ultimately as the senior associate dean for administration.

"It is an honor to have been selected to lead efforts of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center," Edgeton said.

"Over the past 20 years, my work has focused on developing the ecosystem that advances life science technologies to market. It is easy to see North Carolina is well-positioned to bring solutions to the challenges of healing, feeding and fueling the world. The Biotech Center facilitates these solutions, which have tremendous impact for North Carolina and beyond.

"I look forward to working with all of the companies and people that we serve."

NCBiotech is a private, non-profit corporation supported by the N.C. General Assembly to grow the life science industry.

Editors' Note: Full release and photo available online.

SOURCE NCBiotech