Cambridge-based CN Bio, an organ-on-a-chip company that designs and manufactures single-and multi-organ microphysiological systems, has appointed Dr Paul Brooks, formerly the company’s chief business officer since May, to the position of chief executive.

Brooks will be responsible for the company’s global expansion plans. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the life science sector and was previously dead of business operations and managing director for PerkinElmer’s Horizon Discovery, where he led the strategic and operational transformation of its business units.

He was also head of discovery research services and general manager at Sigma-Aldrich (now Merck KGaA), and chief commercial officer and executive director and board member at Oxford Genetics.

CN Bio’s former chief executive, Dr David Hughes, will continue to work with the company in a consultative role within the company’s scientific advisory board.

Brooks said: “I would like to thank David for his leadership of CN Bio through a transformational time, and I look forward to working with him as we begin to fully exploit our incredible innovation engine. I am honoured to be appointed CEO at a pivotal time in the company’s, and the industry’s, evolution, as the value of well-characterised microphysiological systems is increasingly recognised to revolutionise therapeutic programmes. As we enter 2023, CN Bio is well positioned to build upon its successes so far and enter this exciting next stage of commercial growth and expansion.”

Hughes commented: “Since joining the team, Paul has been a driving force for initiating the next phase of CN Bio’s development. His breadth of industry experience, paired with extensive technical expertise, is a huge asset to the company as CEO, and I am confident that he will successfully continue our mission to transform drug discovery. My sincere thanks go to the team, who I have worked alongside for 12 years, and I now look forward to supporting CN Bio’s innovation and growth in an advisory role.”