The Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) announces the appointment of Robert S. Green, longtime Tucson biotechnology entrepreneur, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Green succeeds C. Robert Eaton, who is resigning his position under a mutual agreement with the AZBio Board of Directors.
Green has formed and operated several biotechnology companies since moving to Tucson in 1989, most notably Integrated Biomolecule Corp., which sold its Oro Valley facility to Ventana Medical Systems/Roche Group in late 2008. Green has served on the boards of AZBio and the Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona (BIOSA), as well as Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the statewide public/private partnership overseeing the implementation of a ten-year plan for Arizona to become a competitive bioscience region.
“As the bioscience industry in the state grows and matures, so too does AZBio,” Green said. “We are progressing from an organization that initially fostered networking to one instituting novel programs that assist Arizona’s biotech partners in private business, research, and education. In addition, we seek to inform the public and policymakers of the vital role our industry plays in the state’s economy and in the lives of Arizona residents. This work is even more critical during these difficult economic times.”
On September 24, AZBio held its annual Awards Dinner, where over 300 bioscience industry leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, and elected officials gathered to honor six companies and individuals that work in Arizona to change the world through bioscience innovation.
“Arizona has one of the fastest growing bioscience industries in the nation,” stated Walter H. Plosila, senior advisor to the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, which has provided research and facilitation for Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. “The biosciences in Arizona account for $12.1 billion a year in revenue and $765 million in state and local taxes. AZBio is an essential element in the state’s progress and Mr. Green’s real-world experience and enthusiasm are just what is needed to move this organization and the state’s bioscience initiative forward.”
Michael J. Mobley, who chairs AZBio’s board of directors, noted the expansion of events offered during Eaton’s tenure, as well as the implementation of a new statewide organizational model.
“Bob Eaton was instrumental in forming a board of directors that represented the major regions of our state,” Mobley said. “He built on the strengths of the Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona in Tucson, and developed the beginnings of a new chapter in northern Arizona. We wish him well in his new endeavors.”
Mobley continued, “We welcome Robert Green as our new leader and look forward to AZBio’s continued growth as the leading voice of the biosciences industry in Arizona.”
About the Arizona BioIndustry Association
AZBio is comprised of 175 member organizations in business, research and education, economic development, government, and other professions involved in the biosciences. It seeks to unify, empower, and advance its member organizations, allowing them to benefit individually by acting collectively. For more information about AZBio, visit www.azbio.org
For more information:
“Eaton out, Green takes over at Arizona BioIndustry Association,” Phoenix Business Journal, 10/02/2009