Chris Oates has been appointed chief operating officer of the Dishman Group. Mr. Oates will report to Nick Green, president of the Dishman global contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) business. He will be responsible for Indian and Chinese operations. Mr. Oates will also manage the development, operation and improvement of the systems in the two manufacturing sites in India (Bavla and Naroda) and the new Shanghai facility, scheduled for completion mid-2010. He will be responsible for the nine operating units at Bavla, including a large-scale high potency facility that will be inaugurated in January 2010. He will play a pivotal role in expanding the company’s core CRAMS business.

Mr. Oates has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in both production and operational roles in contract manufacturing. Most recently he served as managing director of Uquifa Mexico. His previous experience includes six years at Avecia Pharmaceuticals in the UK, where he served as operations manager, and as senior production manager for Syngenta (Agrochemicals).