Troy, N.Y. — The Rensselaer Board of Drustees elected James C. Mullen, president and chief executive officer of Biogen, as a new active trustee at its February board meeting over the weekend. Mullen will serve a four-year term through December 2004.

“I am honored to be named to the board of trustees. I am looking forward to being a part of the changes that are taking place under the Rensselaer Plan. President Jackson is a new energy for the Institute and her goal of establishing a strength in biotechnology overlaps nicely with my professional focus,” said Mullen.

Mullen was appointed president and chief executive officer of Biogen, a global biopharmaceutical company and the world’s oldest independent biotechnology company, in June 2000. He is also a member of the Board of Directors. Mullen joined Biogen as director, facilities and engineering, in 1989 and was named vice president, operations, in 1992. From 1996-1999, Mullen served as vice president, international, with responsibility for building all Biogen operations outside North America. He was named president and chief operating officer in January 1999.

During his 11-year tenure at Biogen, Mullen has been credited with significant accomplishments. As vice president, operations, he laid the manufacturing and distribution groundwork to launch AVONEX® (Interferon Beta-la), Biogen’s flagship product for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and he successfully oversaw the creation of Biogen’s manufacturing capability in both Cambridge, Mass., and Research Triangle Park, N.C. As vice president, international, Mullen was the key Biogen executive responsible for the successful registration and launch of AVONEX® throughout Europe. AVONEX® is now available in more than 30 countries worldwide, and Biogen is the first biopharmaceutical company to launch a product on two continents concurrently. Mullen is credited with creating Biogen’s direct sales organization in Europe, the largest in the biotechnology industry.

From 1980 to 1989, Mullen held a variety of manufacturing and engineering positions at SmithKline Beckman (now SmithKline Beecham), including director of engineering. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Rensselaer and an MBA from Villanova University.

Print-quality photo available at http://www.rpi.edu/web/News/Pressimgs/mullen.jpg

Contact: Patricia Azriel
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