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CRI Worldwide Names Ken King Chief Executive Officer
^{Ariana Townsend, CRI Staff, 10/27/2007}

CRI Worldwide, Inc., a leading provider of clinical research services to the global pharmaceutical industry, has named Kenneth S. King as Chief Executive Officer.

Prior to joining CRI Worldwide, King was President of Molecular Medicine at PerkinElmer in Waltham, Ma., where he led the development of the division’s cellular sciences platform through the completion of several acquisitions and the introduction of several new products. King also has held executive positions in Corporate Strategy and Business Development, Sales and Marketing, Research and Development, and Operations Management with PerkinElmer, General Electric and Eaton Corporation. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Physics from Case Western Reserve University, and a BS in Engineering Physics from the University of Maine.

“We are very excited to have a leader with Ken’s breadth of business experience and record of success to lead us through the next phase of CRI’s growth strategy,” said Dr. Howard Hassman, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CRI Worldwide, and a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Founded in 2000, CRI is an innovative research organization that conducts complex Phase I-IV clinical trials with world-recognized expertise in central nervous system (CNS) related disease classes. CRI has an extensive patient database, a world-recognized cognition center, and comprehensive Phase I capabilities, including a licensed hospital setting and an onsite code team. Recently, the company partnered with two experienced private equity firms – SV Life Sciences and Ampersand Ventures – to accelerate an aggressive growth strategy.

“CRI is extremely well-positioned in one of the fastest growing and most important therapeutic areas in pharmaceutical drug discovery,” said Darren Black, Principal, SV Life Sciences, and a member of the CRI Worldwide Board of Directors. “We’re enthusiastic about teaming up with the CRI management group to expand geographically, therapeutically and vertically. Ken King brings the needed global business experience critical to this growth strategy.”

Herb Hooper, General Partner, Ampersand Ventures, and a member of the CRI Board of Directors, added, “Ken’s ability to attract leadership talent, and to architect robust business infrastructure combined with the company’s capabilities in neurological disorder related clinical research, will enable CRI Worldwide to become a leading global partner to the pharmaceutical industry.”

“CRI is unique among its peers in its depth of talent, quality of service, and innovative business model,” said King. “I’m delighted to be part of such a capable team, and look forward to working with the company’s leadership, SV Life Sciences and Ampersand Ventures, to help our pharmaceutical clients bring next generation therapies to market.”

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