Hamburg, Germany | Abingdon, UK Evotec OAI today announces key management changes following the successful integration of  EVOTEC BioSystems AG and Oxford Asymmetry International.
 
With effect from June 30, 2001, Jörn Aldag, the group's Chief Financial Officer, will become President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI. The company is in the process of seeking a new Finance Director.
 
Dr Karsten Henco, currently CEO, and Dr Edwin Moses, currently President, will resign from their positions in order to join the Supervisory Board of Evotec OAI. Both will act as consultants to the Group's management. Dr Henco will continue to focus on his duties as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Evotec OAI.
 
Dr Timm Jessen, Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer, will continue in their respective positions. Dr Jessen's responsibilities include the development of Evotec OAI's biology and chemistry sciences as well as overseeing major technology partnerships. Dr Polywka will be responsible for Evotec OAI's operations. He will also continue as head of Evotec OAI's Oxford, UK, site.
 
The Group is also pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Marrett as Commercial Director, heading the group's Business Development. Dr Marrett joined Evotec OAI  in April 2001 from GlaxoSmithKline, where he was Director, New Product Development US Operating Division.
 
Dr Pol Bamelis, Chief Scientific Officer and member of the Management Board (Vorstand) of Bayer AG, will also join the Supervisory Board, with effect from May 1, 2001. Under Dr Bamelis tenure Bayer staged multi-million dollar collaborations with  leading biotechnology companies and Evotec OAI will benefit from his great experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Roland Oetker and Prof. Hans Jürgen Quadbeck-Seeger will step down from the Supervisory Board.
 
 
Joern Aldag commented:
 "The changes announced today are a continuation of our plans at the time of the merger between Evotec and OAI last year. Karsten Henco and Edwin Moses have played a hugely important role in building up this company and ensuring that its merger has been such a success. I am delighted that Evotec OAI will continue to benefit from Karsten's and Edwin's invaluable support and experience in the next stages of our rapid development as a leader in the discovery and development of new drugs. I would also like to pay tribute to Roland Oetker and Prof Quadbeck-Seeger for their invaluable support over many years."
 
Karsten Henco added:
"Evotec OAI is now beginning an exciting new phase of growth and development, and it has a first-class management team to take it forward. I am delighted to have the opportunity to play a role in the Company's continued success."
 
Edwin Moses says:
"We achieved our internal milestones for the integration of EVOTEC and OAI very quickly. In addition, we have recently closed our first combined research contract with a biotechnology company. I am pleased to continue to oversee Evotec OAI's future development as a member of the Supervisory Board".
 
Notes to editors
Jörn Aldag, (42), the new Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI, has 19 years of professional business experience. He served as Business Director in Treuhandanstalt, the German agency charged with the privatization of East German industry. He joined Evotec OAI in 1997 and since then has played a major role in the Group's corporate development. He secured financing for Evotec in an initial private placement of _x0080_24 million in 1998 and managed the Company's Initial Public Offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 1999. He also initiated and implemented Evotec's merger with Oxford Asymmetry International which was completed in December 2000. Prior to joining Evotec OAI he was Finance Director and General Manager of MAN Gutehoffnungshütte AG, a subsidiary of technology conglomerate MAN AG, Munich. He holds degrees from the European Business School and the Harvard Business School.