Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Coughlin named head of Mass. Biotech Council

By Mass High Tech

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC) has named Robert Coughlin, the governor's undersecretary of business development, as the new president of the Bay State life sciences industry group.

The MBC has operated without a permanent president since January 2007, when Thomas Finneran resigned from the post under pressure after admitted to making false statements while under oath about his role in a 2001 redistricting plan that took place during his tenure as speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Mark Robinson, COO of the MBC, has served as interim president during the search for Finneran's replacement.

Members of the MBC have said they would likely appoint a new president with experience similar to Finneran's in state politics. Coughlin, in addition to serving Gov. Deval Patrick as undersecretary of business development, served three terms in the state House of Representatives and was vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue, according to the council.

Coughlin, a resident of Dedham, is expected to take the reigns at the Cambridge-based industry group in October, according to the MBC.