Vectura Group has appointed its Chief Operations Officer, Dr Trevor Phillips, onto the Board of Directors.

Trevor Phillips joined Vectura as President of US Operations in 2010, becoming COO in July 2011.

Before joining Vectura, he gained extensive international experience in pharmaceutical company leadership and drug development, including the roles of COO and CEO at US company Critical Therapeutics as well as senior positions at Sepracor, Accenture and GlaxoWellcome.

Jack Cashman, Chairman of Vectura, commented: “We welcome Trevor’s addition to the Board, where his extensive industry experience in both European and US public listed pharmaceutical companies will be an asset to us as we evolve on the next stage of growth, positioning ourselves as a key player in the respiratory market.”

Based in Chippenham, Vectura specialises in developing drugs to treat respiratory diseases.

Quintiles has continued its long-term succession planning by appointing Tom Pike as its new Chief Executive Officer.

He replaces founder Dennis Gillings CBE who will continue as Executive Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors.

An excited Mr Pike said it is “extremely motivating to join the company” with Quintiles “at the centre of improving the health of millions of people around the world”.

Mr Pike will join the biopharmaceutical services company on April 30 2012.

The former Accenture employee brings more than 30 years’ experience in a number of industries and high profile companies. During 22 years at Accenture, he held roles including Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategic Officer.

The departing Dennis Gillings said the new CEO has an “impressive track record”.

He commented: “He has experience with organisations our size and much larger that will be extremely valuable to us. Tom has a disciplined and forthright approach that will enable him to earn the trust of customers and employees alike.

“I’m confident he will soon make his mark on our company and the industry at large, continuing the Quintiles tradition of entrepreneurial leadership and pioneering growth.”