Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge clinical trials, announced today the appointment of Yamin ‘Mo’ Khan as Chief Executive Officer of Open Orphan with immediate effect. Mo joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director (“NED”) in October 2021 and has worked closely with the team since then. Executive Chairman, Cathal Friel will continue in his role under the new management structure.
On 13 October 2021, the Company disclosed that Mo was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Open Orphan and that he would Chair both the Audit and Risk, and Nomination Committees. With Mo stepping into an executive role, the Company will look to fill the vacant Independent Non-Executive position and associated committee positions within the next 6 months. In the interim Mo will remain on both the Audit and Risk, and Nomination Committees however he will step down as Chair with immediate effect. He will also step down from the Remuneration Committee with immediate effect. Elaine Sullivan, as Independent Non-Executive Director, will take on the Chair position for the Audit & Risk Committee in the interim and for the Nomination Committee on a full-time basis.
Mo is a business leader and customer-focused CRO executive with over 25 years of global clinical research experience across clinical operations, project management, business development and executive management functions. He previously worked at Pharm-Olam International, a global CRO, for 19 years from 2000-2019. Mo worked across a variety of senior positions including Executive Vice President of Clinical Development and Global Director of Clinical Operations. Mo was a key leader in driving the expansion and growth of the company from a small niche Eastern European CRO to a global player with offices across all continents. Laterally, he led global business development at Pharm-Olam resulting in significant growth and a successful sale in 2017, delivering substantial returns to its shareholders. Prior to this he worked at Innovex and Quintiles CRO (IQVIA).
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman, Open Orphan, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mo Khan as Chief Executive Officer of Open Orphan. In the few short months since he joined us, Mo has shared with us his invaluable experience and knowledge of the CRO industry to the benefit of the Company. With substantial growth across the global infectious and respiratory disease market, the Company has experienced a significant increase in human challenge study contract negotiations.
“The appointment of Mo as CEO adds considerable CRO experience and expertise to our contract negotiations and will allow me to focus my attention on other areas of the business to deliver shareholder value and it is my intention to remain very hands on and involved in the business as we go forward. I look forward to working closely with Mo and the team in the weeks and months ahead.”
Yamin ‘Mo’ Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Open Orphan, said: “I have been very impressed by the outstanding progress that Cathal, the Board and the team have made in establishing Open Orphan as the world leader in human challenge trials, with repeat business from Big Pharma and consistent work from small to mid-sized biotechnology companies. These are exciting times for Open Orphan and its subsidiaries, and I look forward to working closely with Cathal and the team as we go forward, helping to drive further growth for the Company.”
