Published: July 07, 2011
IAVI Appoints Margaret McGlynn President & Chief Executive Officer
NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is pleased to announce
the appointment of Margaret (Margie) McGlynn as President and Chief
Executive Officer. McGlynn, who has been a member of the IAVI Board of
Directors since July 2010, replaces Seth Berkley, IAVI's Founding
President and CEO. She will work with the Board of Directors to provide
the vision and leadership to guide IAVI, and will lead its Senior
Management Team in overseeing the organization's global operations,
programs and partnerships, while ensuring its financial stability. As
IAVI's leader, McGlynn will be responsible for fostering an environment
within IAVI that promotes innovation and flexibility and encourages
collaboration with partners, while maintaining a strong commitment to
engaging researchers, governments and communities in those countries
hardest hit by the pandemic. As President and CEO, McGlynn will serve as
an ex-officio member of IAVI's Board of Directors.
"IAVI's Board believes Margie is uniquely suited to lead the
organization," said Board Chairman Paul Klingenstein. "As former
President of Global Vaccines and Anti-infectives at Merck, Margie has a
wealth of experience in both the vaccine industry and the HIV field, a
deep understanding of global health, public policy and development
issues, and strong business acumen."
As head of Merck's vaccines and infectious diseases business, McGlynn
was responsible for a US$ 7 billion portfolio of products and oversaw
the launch of several important new vaccines and anti-infective agents.
Among them was Gardasil, the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical
cancer, and Isentress, the first integrase inhibitor marketed to treat
HIV. During her 26-year-long tenure at Merck, McGlynn helped launch
several initiatives to provide people in developing countries access to
Merck's vaccines and antiretroviral medications. She also played a
significant role in the formation of the MSD-Wellcome Trust Hilleman
Laboratories, a partnership between Merck and the Wellcome Trust that
established a research center in India to develop vaccines for the
developing world.
"I have long been passionate about ensuring that people in the
developing world can access life-saving medicines and vaccines, and I am
delighted that, in my new role as CEO of IAVI, I will be able to
contribute to advancing the search for an effective AIDS vaccine that
one day will be available to all of those who need it," said McGlynn. "I
am excited to lead IAVI and work with our partners to build upon the
current renaissance in AIDS vaccine research. I look forward to working
closely with the Board and senior leadership team to guide IAVI on its
mission."
Today, McGlynn serves as a board member for several nonprofit and
private sector entities. She served on the board and executive committee
of the GAVI Alliance, an organization that increases access to
immunizations against common infectious diseases throughout the
developing world, and she was one of 25 commissioners recruited by the
Center for Strategic and International Studies for its Commission on
Smart Global Health Policy, which issued in 2010 a report advising the
Obama administration and Congress on a long-term, strategic approach to
U.S. global health efforts. Since retiring from Merck, McGlynn has been
working to support research on potential new therapies for a rare
genetic disease that affected her family.
"Margie has the right combination of passion, experience and technical
understanding to lead IAVI into its next phase," said IAVI Founder Seth
Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. "I am confident that IAVI will
continue to make a major impact as it pursues its goal of ensuring the
development of an AIDS vaccine, and I am secure in the knowledge that I
am handing over the reins to an individual as capable and experienced as
Margie. I look forward to seeing great things happen at IAVI in the
coming years."
McGlynn holds a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy and an MBA in Marketing,
both from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
About IAVI
IAVI is a global not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure
the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines
for use throughout the world. Founded in 1996, IAVI works with partners
in 25 countries to research, design and develop AIDS vaccine candidates.
In addition, IAVI conducts policy analyses and serves as an advocate for
the AIDS vaccine field. IAVI supports a comprehensive approach to
addressing HIV and AIDS that balances the expansion and strengthening of
existing HIV-prevention and treatment programs with targeted investments
in the design and development of new tools to prevent HIV. IAVI is
dedicated to ensuring that a future AIDS vaccine will be available and
accessible to all who need it. IAVI relies on the generous donations
from governments, private individuals, corporations and foundations to
carry out its mission. For more information, see www.iavi.org.
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
Sara Levy, 212-328-7415
slevy@iavi.org
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