AdAlta Limited (ASX:1AD), an Australian based drug development company, has named Dr Tim Oldham as its new chief executive officer and managing director, it was reported yesterday.

Dr Oldham brings more than 20 years' executive leadership experience to AdAlta. His expertise spans life sciences strategy and business development, commercial and manufacturing operations and alliance management across Europe, Asia and Australia, with a particular focus on biologic and cellular therapies and pharmaceuticals. Prior to AdAlta, Dr Oldham was executive leader at Tijan Ventures. Previous roles have included CEO and managing director of Cell Therapies Pty Ltd, president of Asia Pacific for Hospira Inc, and a variety of senior management roles with Mayne Pharma Ltd in Europe prior to its acquisition by Hospira. These roles include the development and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals, devices, biologics and cellular therapies and industry advocacy. Dr Oldham was also formerly an engagement manager with global strategy consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Presently, Dr Oldham is non-executive director of Acrux Ltd (ASX: ACR) and Immunexus Ltd. He is also a member of the board of BioMelbourne Network Inc.

Executive chairman, Paul MacLeman, said, 'We are delighted to have someone of Tim's calibre and experience join AdAlta as our new chief executive officer. Tim brings a diverse and international skillset, but his biologics and commercialisation expertise will be invaluable as we approach a number of important milestones: non-human primate pre-clinical results, the commencement of phase I human trials for AD-214, and the furthering of late-stage partnering discussions for AdAlta's i-body platform. The board looks forward to working with him to continue to progress our strategy around these value-driving activities.'