The Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO) today announced the election of Andy Hull as chairman of the iBIO Board of Directors, and the election of Linda Friedman, as chairperson of the iBIO Institute Board of Directors. 

As Vice President of Global Alliance Management for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Hull is responsible for maximizing the success of Takeda's growing number of commercial and research and development partnerships. Hull has substantial experience in the biotech industry, with a focus on marketing, commercial development and partnerships. Before joining Takeda in 2002, Hull worked at Immunex as a Vice President of Specialty Therapeutics Marketing and at Abbott Laboratories in sales and marketing. Hull received a bachelor's degree in biology from Kenyon College in 1985 and is a member of the Kenyon College Board of Trustees. 

Linda Friedman has been with Astellas US LLC and its predecessor companies since 1993. As Senior Vice President and General Counsel, she is responsible for legal, compliance, and internal audit for the Americas region, along with intellectual property for the U.S. Friedman has been a member of the Board of Directors for two years and has been a strong supporter of PROPEL and EDUCATE. She has been an active member of the PhRMA law section and chaired the Law Section Executive Committee in 2006-2007. A Chicago native, Friedman graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's Degree in social work and went on to receive her law degree from Northwestern University. 

iBIO also named Joe Nolan, chief commercial officer of Lundbeck, Inc. as vice chair of human health; and Robb Leming, senior finance manager - Heartland Business Unit of DuPont Pioneer, as vice chairman for food and agriculture. iBIO also elected as new board members Percival Barretto-Ko, senior vice president of corporate strategy and government affairs, Astellas US LLC; and Claudia Roth, PhD, president of Vetter Development Services USA, Inc.

David Miller, president and CEO of iBIO and the iBIO Institute said, "We are fortunate here in Illinois to have an amazing array of executive talent in the agricultural, medical and bio- industrial sectors. Being able to recruit to our boards of directors people of this caliber is a tribute to the high level of civic-mindedness of these industrial leaders." 

iBIO Chairman-elect Andy Hull added, "I am honored to be elected as Chairman. Working with my fellow board members, I look forward to continuing the great work of this organization as we seek to make Illinois and the surrounding Midwest a globally recognized biotechnology center." 

Said iBIO Institute Chairperson Linda Friedman, "It is truly an honor and a privilege to Chair the iBIO Institute Board for 2014. I have spent the majority of my professional career in the life sciences industry and am proud to be an ambassador for iBIO Institute. I look forward to the opportunity to support and further contribute to the Institute including the great works of PROPEL and EDUCATE."