New CEO at Silence

Thomas Christély has been named chief executive officer of Silence Therapeutics plc, an RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics company. He will be based at Silence’s facility in Berlin.

Mr. Christély has more than 20 years experience in corporate and business development and finance. He was involved in the merger that formed Silence, and has concluded collaborations with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Dainippon Sumitomo, as well as M&A, divestments and strategic restructurings. He joined Atugen AG (which became Silence Therapeutics AG) in 2001 as chief financial officer and became chief operating officer in 2002 before being appointed chief executive officer in 2006. Prior to joining Silence, Thomas was senior vice president and chief financial officer at OXO Chemie AG.

From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Christély was managing partner of the investment firm Löschen & Partner, Hamburg/Moscow, and worked in M&A at Enskilda Corporate Finance, London, from 1989 to 1992.

Jerry Randall, chairman of Silence Therapeutics, said, “After a thorough selection process of internal and external candidates, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas as chief executive officer. This successfully completes the reorganization announced earlier this year in order to streamline Silence’s operations. Now that Silence has become a wholly European company, it is appropriate to have a chief executive based in Europe. Thomas has more than 10 years of experience at Silence and was instrumental in Silence’s major partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. His experience with the team and the science will ensure continuity as we move forward. We are confident that Thomas has the vision, expertise and experience necessary to move the Company toward the achievement of its corporate and clinical objectives.”