Alexion Pharmaceuticals has expanded its executive leadership team through several appointments and promotions. Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., co-founder of Alexion, is being promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president, chief global operations officer. Martin Mackay, Ph.D. has been named executive vice president, global head of R&D. Saqib Islam, J.D. has been named senior vice president, chief strategy and portfolio officer. All three executives will report directly to Leonard Bell, M.D., Alexion’s chief executive officer.

Dr. Mackay and Mr. Islam will help to broaden Alexion’s portfolio of transformative ultra-orphan therapeutic candidates and accelerate the development of candidates into approved products. Dr. Squinto’s new role will be to support these initiatives, and also improve and expand critical processes in manufacturing, quality and corporate project management.

“Steve’s deep experience, strong technical background and excellent leadership skills, position him well to lead the critical expansions in our global manufacturing and quality organizations,” said Dr. Bell. “Additionally, Steve’s leadership in the development of a corporate project management organization will serve as a critical underpinning for our global growth across many vital functions and projects.”

Most recently, Dr. Mackay was president, R&D at AstraZeneca. Previously, he had been president, head of Pfizer Pharmatherapeutics R&D. Mr. Islam most recently worked at Credit Suisse Securities as managing director, head of Healthcare and Diversified Industrials Capital Markets.