2020 Officers and New Member Announcement

Washington DC – The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has elected Alistair Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer of Syneos Health, as 2020 Chair. Steve Cutler, Chief Executive Officer of ICON, was elected Vice Chair. The Board of Directors also elected Jason Meggs, Chief Financial Officer at Syneos Health, as Treasurer, and Diarmaid Cunningham, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel at ICON, as Secretary.

With over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Macdonald has led Syneos Health’s global expansion, implementing new technologies, processes and integrated solutions. Prior to the INC Research/inVentiv Health merger to become Syneos Health in 2017, he held numerous roles of increasing responsibility at INC Research including Head of Global Business Development and Marketing, Head of Alliances Development and Delivery teams, Head of Global Oncology, and President of Clinical Development Services. He assumed the INC Research Chief Executive Officer role in 2016.

“Traditional product development models are being redefined by new market realities. Working together across the sector, we have the unique opportunity to identify new ways to navigate the challenges of a more complex operating, regulatory and reimbursement environment,” said Macdonald. “I look forward to cross-collaboration with ACRO member companies and key stakeholders to drive innovation to speed therapies to patients.”

2019 ACRO achievements include the development of two white papers featuring insights and recommendations for further implementation of Risk-Based Monitoring and participation in various FDA public workshops and meetings. Anticipating the drafting of follow-on legislation to the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures 2.0), ACRO hosted a briefing with the Congressional Research and Development Caucus and continues its productive engagement with TransCelerate Biopharma Inc. through the CRO Forum.

ACRO is also announcing the onboarding of its newest member, Signant Health, its sixth technology member. Signant is focused on using technology to connect research programs to patients for clinical research and pharmaceutical development.

About ACRO

The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) represents clinical research and technology companies that provide a variety of specialized services that support the development of new pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices. Through its member companies, ACRO helps improve the quality, efficiency and safety of biomedical research. ACRO member companies operate in more than 100 countries across the globe and conduct or support the conduct of the majority of clinical trials worldwide.

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