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New Scientific Leadership For Animal Health Trust

Author: Animal Health Trust
Posted: Thursday 4th May, 2006. 00:00:00

Dr Mark Vaudin, who has held the post of Head of Genetics
at the Animal Health Trust since October 2004,
has been appointed Interim Chief Executive with effect from 1st May.
He was chosen by a specially convened Selection Committee, which included representatives of the equine and small animal industries, and the appointment was supported unanimously by the AHT’s Board of Trustees.

The future direction of the Trust has been under close scrutiny since it became apparent, last year, that a proposed merger with the Royal Veterinary College in London would not go ahead. The Trustees and Executive Committee have given lengthy consideration to all aspects of the organisation’s role and structure during a series of meetings, both internally and with representatives of the equine and canine industries which support the Trust.

Deputy President, Lord Kirkham, said “following the retirement of the Executive Chairman, Ted Chandler, in March, we decided to appoint an interim Chief Executive with the necessary expertise and experience to start implementing our current strategy, and Mark Vaudin is ideally placed to do this. This appointment will allow us time to identify and recruit the most suitable candidate for the post on a permanent basis. Of course” he continued “it may well be that Mark is among the candidates considered but the post will be advertised widely in due course”.

Mark Vaudin was previously selected by his colleagues as Chairman of the Trust’s internal Scientific Steering Committee and his appointment has met with the approval of AHT staff, many of whom submitted written support of his candidacy. “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity and feel extremely optimistic about the future of the Trust” he said. “We have been through a difficult period, without doubt, with a lot of uncertainty. However, it has provided us with an opportunity to really put the organisation under the microscope and, in conjunction with our major supporters, decide on the most appropriate strategy for meeting the challenges of the 21st century, in the context of equine and small animal health and welfare”.

Dr Vaudin has a wealth of leadership and business experience to help him in his task. His scientific career has spanned 26 years in both the academic and corporate sectors, in the UK and USA. He has initiated a large number of collaborative projects and believes firmly that the establishment of appropriate collaboration with other scientific institutions is key to the future success of the Trust.

Sir Tristram Ricketts, Chief Executive of the Horserace Betting Levy Board who fund a great deal of the Trust’s equine research, commented “Mark is well known to us through his excellent work on equine genetics. We are pleased to see the Trust emerge from its difficulties with so much obvious enthusiasm and determination, and we look forward to participating in discussions about its future strategic development”.

It is anticipated that the interim position will last for at least 6 months.

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