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Silence Therapeutics chief executive Mortazavi steps down
RNA therapeutics developer Silence Therapeutics announced on Monday that its chief executive Ali Mortazavi will leave the company with immediate effect after a six year stay.
Silence said that until the appointment of a new chief executive, Annalisa Jenkins, current chair of the AIM traded company, will assume the role of executive chair in an interim capacity to ensure a "smooth transition".
Annalisa Jenkins, executive chairman of Silence Therapeutics, said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank Ali for his achievements and commitment to Silence over the past six years. Under his leadership Silence has built an experienced international executive team with significant RNAi expertise."
Jenkins joined the company as non-executive chair in October 2017 and also serves as chief executive of Plaquetec and on a number of UK and International life science boards.
Her 25 years of experience includes stints as head of global research and development at Merck Serono, head of global medical affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb and chief executive of Dimension Therapeutics until its acquisition in 2017.
"We believe today that our RNAi platform and R&D capabilities offer an opportunity to advance our lead programme in iron metabolism towards the clinic and to establish research partnerships that will maximise shareholder value," said Jenkins.
Silence said Jenkins has developed expertise in developing programmes reliant on research through clinical development, regulatory approval and global healthcare systems.
As of 1232 BST, Silence Therapeutics' shares were up 8.89% at 147.00p.