People in the News

Cortendo AB, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on orphan endocrine disorders incorporated in Göteborg, Sweden, and based in Radnor, named Ruth Thieroff-Ekerdt chief medial officer. She had been chief medical officer at Aptalis Pharmaceuticals.

Dean Dortone was hired as chief financial officer of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He held the same post in Lower Merion Township.

DLA Piper's Philadelphia office promoted partner Lesli Esposito to co-chair of the firm's U.S. antitrust practice. National diversity and inclusion partner Ray Williams was named co-chair of the firm's product liability and mass torts practice.

Spark Therapeutics, a Philadelphia-based late-stage gene-therapy company, named Daniel M. Takefman head of regulatory affairs. Takefman was chief of the gene-therapy branch of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Evolution Consulting & Research, a biopharmaceutical consulting and research firm based in Blue Bell, hired Elena Kaplan and Danielle C. Porreca as senior research consultants. Kaplan had been a research consultant for the Transamerica Center for Health Studies in Baltimore. Porreca had been a senior consultant in the qualitative research group at CMI.

Allebach Communications, Souderton, hired marketing executive Christa Ward as vice president of account services. She had been an account executive at Al Paul Lefton.

CRF Health, a Plymouth Meeting provider of technology for global clinical trials, hired John Blakeley as chief business officer and Risto Enbuska as chief technology officer. Blakeley had been chief commercial officer at Greenphire. Enbuska had been vice president, research & development, at Comptel.

Bancroft, a Haddonfield provider of programs and supports for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and adults needing neurological rehabilitation, promoted Fina Nash to senior vice president of business operations and innovation, from vice president of information technology.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners L.L.P., Philadelphia, hired the following senior associates: Feige M. Grundman, former associate at Blank Rome L.L.P.; Andrew J. Zeltner, former associate at Fragomen in Atlanta; Lisa T. Felix, former associate at Harter Secrest & Emery L.L.P., in Rochester; R. Tina Tuli, former senior compliance associate at Cordium; and Michele Gallo, former associate attorney at Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty L.L.P.

Philadelphia marketing communications agency Domus Inc. hired Kevin Schluth as senior account manager. He had been senior account manager at Epsilon.

TD Bank promoted Rainna D. Bajorek to store manager of a branch in Exton, from financial services representative.

Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation, Pomona, named Curtis H. Waechtler brain injury program coordinator. He will retain his current title of senior neuropsychologist at Bacharach.

Synchrogenix Information Strategies Inc., Wilmington, a regulatory writing company to the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries, named Kelley Kendle CEO. She joined the company in 2003 as director of finance and most recently was president.

Glen Ives was promoted to chief operating officer Sabre Systems Inc., a Warminster provider of professional services to U.S. government agencies and commercial clients. He had been group vice president of the company's Mid-Atlantic region.

MayoSeitz Media, Blue Bell, hired Katie Dalhoff as a senior media strategist. She had been a senior marketing consultant at the Chicago Tribune.

William D. Rhodes III was named president of the Addis Group, a King of Prussia risk management consultant and insurance broker. He is a founding partner of the company and had been executive vice president.

Also, Brian Crochiere and Andrew Addis, senior vice presidents, will lead the firm's Business Development Center of Excellence. Matt Donahoe, a senior vice president, will assume a leadership role as unit head of business risk solutions. Michelle Bock, senior vice president of finance and administration, will add an operational leadership role.

Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Puerto Rico liner services group, Jacksonville, Fla., promoted Karen Dempsey to director of port operations in Pennsauken, from manager of port administration.

Glenn S. Gerhard was appointed chair of the new Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, and the inaugural holder of the Joseph and Rebecca Goodfriend Endowed Chair in Genetics at Temple University School of Medicine. Gerhard was professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State College of Medicine.

Erin Cohen was promoted to assistant vice president/retail officer from branch manager for the Limerick Branch of Ambler Savings Bank.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, Plymouth Meeting, hired Dillon Friday as marketing and communications manager. He was a freelance sportswriter for the Delaware County Daily Times.

The Galbreath Group, an Abington provider of bank-owned life insurance and insurance asset management to financial institutions, hired Michael Resch as managing director. He had been sales/business development manager at Pride Solvents & Chemical Co.

Travis A. Werley was hired as vice president, agricultural banking officer at Tompkins VIST Bank, Wyomissing. He had been an agri-business lender with Fulton Bank.

Maureen K. McDade joined Fox Chase Cancer Center as vice president of ambulatory care. She had been associate vice president of operations for Jefferson University Physicians at Thomas Jefferson University and Health System.

Lincoln Financial Group hired Diane Russell as vice president of marketing and communications of its insurance and retirement business. She had been vice president of product management and development at Cigna. - Mike Zebe