MDS Inc. (MDS), a life sciences company, announced the appointment of Steve West, president of MDS Nordion, as chief operating officer (COO) of MDS Inc. The company also said that Stephen DeFalco, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of MDS Inc., intends to step down from his position following the successful completion of strategic transactions announced on September 2, 2009.
“As we reposition the Company to unlock the value of MDS businesses, we have prepared for a smooth CEO transition as part of our succession planning process,” said James S. A. MacDonald, chairman of MDS Inc.’s board of directors. “Steve is a talented executive with a proven track record of delivering strong performance. He assumes the COO position with the full confidence and support of the Board.”
West became president of MDS Nordion in 2003. He began his career at MDS in 2001 as a senior partner with MDS Capital Corporation. Prior to that, he was President of DiverseyLever Canada and has held a variety of CEO assignments in Asia and the Pacific Rim, as well as international business development responsibilities in the specialty chemicals field. West holds a degree in Genetics from the University of London and completed post-graduate research in biotechnology.
“Steve is an experienced leader with strong business acumen and significant capability managing complex operations,” said Stephen P. DeFalco, president and chief executive officer, MDS Inc. “The Board and I believe that Steve is well positioned to build MDS Nordion as a stand-alone company focused on its core strengths in medical isotopes for molecular and diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutics and sterilization technologies.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead MDS as it enters a new chapter in its evolution,” said Steve West. “Together with our team of talented employees, I look forward to continuing to address the challenges we face and to focus on opportunities to build the business.”