Unexpected departure of Celgene president and COO

3 April 2018

In what came as a surprise to most, US biotech firm Celgene Corporation (Nasdaq: CELG) on Monday announced that Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer (COO), is leaving the company effective immediately, and just a year after taking up the post.

His primary responsibilities will be assumed by Celgene’s chairman and chief executive Mark Alles.

No reason for the decision was provided, but the departure of Mr Smith, aged 55, comes a month after the US Food and Drug Administration, in a surprise move, rejected Celgene’s application seeking approval of a key multiple sclerosis drug ozanimod due to insufficient data.

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