PAREXEL CEO Named ACRO Chairman

The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) has named PAREXEL chairman and chief executive officer, Josef von Rickenbach, as the organization’s 2013 chairman. ACRO is an advocate of CRO expertise in all aspects of clinical research and represents the CRO industry globally to sponsors, regulators and legislators, peer associations, academic organizations, patient groups, the media and the public.
 
“It is an honor to have been selected to lead ACRO’s board of directors in 2013,” said Mr. von Rickenbach. “As incoming chairman, I look forward to continuing the great momentum initiated by my predecessor to help ACRO and its members build and strengthen public understanding and confidence in clinical research. Equally, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the association’s global stakeholders to promote the strategic value of clinical outsourcing, drive innovation in the drug development process and ensure the safe and ethical development of new medicines and treatments.” 
 
In his role at PAREXEL, Mr. von Rickenbach was one of the first to define the clinical research services sector by making clinical development more effective for clients. He conceived a multidisciplinary and systems-oriented approach to outsourced clinical development, bringing efficiencies, scalability, and standardization to the process.
 
Mr. von Rickenbach previously served as chair of ACRO in 2005 and is a long-standing member of the ACRO board of directors.