BMS Appoints New CSO

Francis Cuss, MB BChir, FRCP, has been appointed executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb, effective July 1. He will replace Elliott Sigal, M.D., Ph.D., who plans to retire. Dr. Sigal has served as the company’s chief scientific officer since 2004 and on the board of directors since 2011. He will retire from both positions June 30, 2013. Drs. Sigal and Cuss will continue to work together until that time.
 
“Francis is a strong and collaborative leader with broad experience in both discovery and development,” said Lamberto Andreotti, chief executive officer, BMS. “He has been a key member of our productive R&D team who, under Elliott’s leadership, has delivered our strong portfolio and pipeline. As our company embarks on the next phase of pipeline execution, this is a natural time for Francis to lead our R&D team.”
 
“Elliott has been a key leader in the development and execution of our company’s strategy to become a biopharma leader,” said Mr. Andreotti. “He and his team have become one of the most productive and innovative R&D organizations in the industry. Elliott has had a significant impact on the transformation of our company and, most importantly, on the patients we serve. I am grateful for the many things that Elliott and I have been able to accomplish together.”
 
Dr. Cuss joined the company in 2003 as senior vice president, Drug Discovery, adding responsibility for Discovery Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology in May 2006. Dr. Cuss and his team successfully integrated Adnexus, Medarex and ZymoGenetics into the research organization, and have driven innovation in the research operating model, processes and governance. Dr. Cuss became a member of the company’s senior management team in 2010. Prior to joining the company, Dr. Cuss spent 14 years at Schering-Plough and three years at Glaxo.
 
Dr. Sigal joined the company in 1997 as vice president of the newly created department of Applied Genomics. He has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility, and was appointed executive vice president in 2006 and was elected to the board of directors in 2011. Under Dr. Sigal’s leadership, 14 new products were brought to market including medicines to treat diseases including cancer, serious mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplant rejection, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.