By Bio-IT World Staff
January 22, 2010 | The chief executive shuffle at consumer genomics firm Navigenics continues with the appointment of Vance Vanier as the new president and CEO, succeeding Jonathan ‘Jack’ Lord.
Vanier was previously the chief medical officer of the firm, joining in April 2008, the same month that Navigenics launched its direct-to-consumer (DTC) service. Lord had replaced founding CEO Mari Baker, but stayed only nine months in the position.
In a statement, Navigenics said Vanier had been “instrumental in growing the company’s clinical offerings as well as institutional research and corporate partnerships.” Vanier has a VC background, having been a partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures specializing in molecular diagnostics. Vanier also serves as a clinical faculty member of Stanford University Medical Center.
“Navigenics has defined preventive genomics and its potential to enable prevention and motivate behavior change,” said Vanier. “Interest in wellness and prevention is briskly increasing and I am confident that the company is well positioned for the opportunities that lie ahead.”
“It was Vance’s vision that guided Navigenics into the physician and employer wellness markets, and he has been critical to Navigenics’ success over the past two years,” said Navigenics director Dana G. Mead, Jr., a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. “As the company evolves its corporate strategy, forging deeper relationships with physician groups and employer-sponsored health and wellness programs, Vance’s clinical experience and exceptional leadership make him a natural choice to lead the company.”
Navigenics claims to be the leading personalized genetic testing provider recommended by physicians. While its DTC service is double the price of competitors such as 23andMe and Pathway Genomics, the firm is seeing growth by targeting corporate health programs, and claims to have a pipeline of corporate accounts.
Navigenics was founded by oncologist David Agus and molecular geneticist Dietrich Stephan. Agus assumed a new position as head of molecular medicine at the University of Southern California last year, while Stephan is establishing the Ignite Institute of Individualized Health in Northern Virginia.