Direct-to-consumer genomics testing firm 23andMe has appointed Andy Page as its president, a newly created post. Page, who has served as a member of 23andMe's board of directors for the past year, will report to CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki.
Page's role as president begins on June 12. He was previously president of the Gilt Groupe, an online luxury shopping website, and chief operating and financial officer at PlayPhone. In his new position at 23andMe, Page will be in charge of the firm's product and engineering, marketing, finance, business development, laboratory operations, and legal/regulatory affairs functions. He will also identify long-term growth opportunities for 23andMe.
In appointing Page, Wojcicki reiterated the company's previously stated goal to garner one million customers by the end of the year. The company has lowered the price of its genomic testing services to $99 hoping to attract a more diverse customer base.
Wojcicki will focus on 23andMe's research organization and management activities. She and Page will work together on the company's business strategy. Page will remain a board member.
The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research has appointed David Lane to be its new scientific director, effective June 1. He succeeds Andrew Simpson, who was scientific director for five years, from 2007 to 2012. Lane is chief scientist at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, and he will retain that post in addition to his new role at Ludwig.
Mollie Roth, former COO of the personalized medicine consultancy Diaceutics, has launched her own personalized medicine and life sciences consulting firm, PGx Consulting. Roth, an attorney by training, will provide a variety of services to the life sciences industry in the areas of strategic planning, operations, companion diagnostic contract negotiation, sales and marketing, legal, IT and network support, and SEO optimization.