Aldevron, a provider of custom development and manufacturing of plasmid DNA, proteins, mRNA and antibodies to the biotech industry, has named Brian Walters, president of its antibody business unit and Tom Foti, president of its protein business unit.
 
Mr. Walters is currently chief business officer at its headquarters in Fargo, ND. He will split his time between Freiburg, Germany, home to Aldevron’s antibody business unit, and Fargo. Mr. Foti is currently the vice president and general manager of Aldevron’s Madison, WI, facility, and will remain at that location.
 
Both Foti and Walters will continue to report to Michael Chambers, chief executive officer, and will help the company with strategic initiatives to expand and improve how the company supports clients in their gene and cell therapy research.
 
“Tom has been with Aldevron for 10 years, and Brian for six,” said Mr. Chambers. “Each has served our company well and their individual experience and leadership skills are exactly what we need as we continue on our growth trajectory. They will support our team and goals, while never losing sight on what drives Aldevron—providing the highest quality biologics to help solve the world’s greatest health problems.”
 
Mr. Walters has nearly 25 years of experience in economic development innovation and business development, and finance. He is currently leading the manufacturing space expansion efforts of Aldevron’s Freiburg facility that were announced earlier this year. Before joining Aldevron as chief financial officer in 2013, he was economic development director for the city of Winter Springs, FL.
 
Mr. Foti has more than 25 years of biotechnology experience. He started his career with Novagen, serving in both manufacturing and operational roles; moving to Merck KGaA’s bioscience division where he spent 10 years in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility, leading their global custom services business unit before moving to Aldevron in 2009. He is currently overseeing the expansion of Aldevron’s Madison site to include a 1,000 L fermenter, among other manufacturing improvements.