Biotech group Vernalis replaces departing GC with internal promotion
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Biotechnology research company Vernalis has promoted in-house lawyer Alison Hood to the position of general counsel and company secretary.
Hood replaces former general counsel and chief operating officer John Slater, who left Vernalis at the end of September. It is not yet known where Slater has moved on to.
Hood joined the group in 2007 from pharmaceuticals company Celltech, where she was assistant general counsel.
Vernalis chief executive officer Ian Garland said: “She’s perfect for our organisation because she trained as a biochemist at university before training to be a lawyer. For Vernalis this is extremely valuable experience for us.”
Hood joined Addleshaw Goddard legacy firm Theordore Goddard in 1995 as a trainee in the IP group before joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 1997.
The Vernalis legal function has a three-strong team including Hood. During Slater’s tenure the general counsel and chief operating officer (COO) roles were combined.
Hood takes on the role of general counsel after Vernalis chose not to replace Slater with a new COO.
