Friday, September 19, 2008

Shake-up at MBC sees three leave, new director added

By Stephen DeSantis

The Massachusetts Biotech Council (MBC) has restructured its member services departments, resulting in the departure of three staff members and the hiring of Lauren Laidlaw as the director of member services.

The MBC’s previous director of events and its previous director of membership services were among the staffers who are no longer with the organization, said Robert Coughlin, the council’s president. Coughlin declined to comment on the names of those individuals citing the council policy.

Laidlaw, who will oversea both its membership, business development and event departments, was formerly the director of global events at Cambridge Energy Research Associates Inc. (CERA).

“She comes from a much larger organization and brings a much more experienced approach to combining events and the relevance of programming events. It is something that we needed to due. In other words, we are taking our staff and reorganizing them in a way that will better suit our members’ needs in the future,” he said.

The MBC currently has a staff of 24 employees. Coughlin stated they would be adding mid-level management positions and that they are currently seeking a new purchasing director.

Coughlin also stated that the MBC’s budget has not decreased.

“Restructuring our organization is something that our members want and deserve,” Coughlin added.