CSL loses staff in raid

Dr Andrew Nash is the Chief Scientific Officer for CSL, working on a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Photograph by Paul Jeffers The Australian

Australian medical groups are raiding the ranks of CSL – one of the country’s heavyweights in the biotechnology field – with Medical Developments International picking up Brent MacGregor and Gordon Naylor and Polynovo hiring Robyn Elliott.

Mr MacGregor will become chief executive of Medical Developments International, while Robyn Elliott a Polynovo director.

Mr Naylor and Mr MacGregor worked closely together at CSL.

Mr MacGregor joined Seqirus in 2015 as Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations.

Seqirus was formed that year from CSL’s acquisition of the Novartis influenza vaccines business and combining it with their own bioCSL operation.

Mr Naylor held a range of leadership roles at CSL, including chief financial officer, and this will be his first boardroom role after leaving the company.

A trained engineer, Mr Naylor also worked as president of influenza vaccine company Seqirus, leading a three-year turn-around of the business that became one of the most successful vaccine companies in the world.

Medical Developments International is an Australia-based healthcare company involved in the manufacture and distribution of a pharmaceutical drug, and medical and veterinary equipment.

The company operates through three segments, including Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Veterinary products, and is chaired by high profile Melbourne-based mergers and acquisitions adviser David Williams.

Ms Elliott remains senior director strategic projects at CSL while being on the Polynovo board.

Polynovo is an Australian-based medical device company that designs, develops and manufactures dermal regeneration solutions.

Meanwhile, Christine Emmanuel has also joined the boards of Medical Developments International and Polynovo after working as Head of Intellectual Property and Investments at CSIRO, Australia’s largest research organisation.