Synteract Expands International Roles

With the goal of expanding internationally, Synteract Inc. has hired Rod Saponjic, Ph.D., as vice president of global project management to grow and develop the firm’s international offices. The company also has promoted other executives as part of the plan.

As vice president of global project management, Saponjic will harmonize project management methodologies, training and operations at the San Diego, Calif.-based company. Saponjic served in a similar role at PRA International, a clinical research organization headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Before joining PRA, he held senior management positions with Conshohocken, Pa.-based Monitorforhire.com, a global online community for independent clinical research monitors; Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Clingenix Inc., a biotechnology company that focuses on development and clinical validation of molecular diagnostics such as molecular screenings for insulin resistance; and Durham, N.C.-based Quintiles Transnational Corp., which helps pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies develop and market therapies.

Besides hiring Saponjic, executives at Synteract have promoted Stewart Bieler to chief operating officer and have appointed Ali Sadighian as vice president of business development. In addition, Kristi Clark has become managing director of Synteract’s new office in Prague, Czech Republic, which opened in August.

Bieler began his tenure at Synteract in 1999 as director of clinical operations and project management and most recently served as senior vice president of clinical operations and project management. Prior to Synteract, he developed a regulatory submissions group within the regulatory affairs department at San Diego, Calif.-based Dura Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Sadighian has more than 18 years of experience in research and development and has led the business development department at Synteract since he joined the company in 2006. He previously was director of clinical operations for MonitorforHire.com, where he supervised the San Diego, Calif., operations of the firm. Prior to that, he worked in clinical operations at Quintiles and PRA International.

Clark previously was senior director of project management and global business operations at the Synteract headquarters office. Clark joined Synteract in 2006 after managing large global trials at Quintiles for eight years. Clark has 19 years of industry experience and has assumed the role of managing director to build the office, hire employees, monitor project management and establish affiliate relationships.

“Our goal is to provide our clients with the same flexibility, guidance and responsive service for their multinational trials that they have become accustomed to when working with us domestically,” said Ellen Morgan, Synteract’s CEO and co-founder.

The company is looking at possible acquisitions in Europe and India in 2010 and beyond, and expects to hire another 200 employees globally by 2012, the firm said.