Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology Names CEO

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology Inc., or HART, a biotechnology company developing bioengineered organs for clinical use, named James McGorry as CEO, effective July 6.

McGorry has more than 25 years of experience in the life-science business in biologics, personalized medicine and medical devices, including multiple product launches. He also has been a member of the HART board of directors since February 2013.

“Jim is the ideal person to lead HART at this time,” said John F. Kennedy, chairman of the board. “Jim brings his extensive experience developing, leading and growing life science businesses to our company. He spent 12 years in senior management roles at Genzyme, and as a key leader of the Bio Surgery business there Jim led the commercial development and launch of innovative tissue engineered products. He also brings extensive experience in the fields of personalized medicine and medical devices. For the past two years, Jim has provided invaluable insights as a member of our board, and we expect that HART will benefit greatly from his dedicated guidance as CEO.”

Kennedy thanked Tom McNaughton, the company’s chief financial officer, who has been serving as interim CEO since David Green stepped down in April. Green remains as a member of the board.

At the time of his departure as CEO, Green said the time was “right to bring in a new CEO who has experience in guiding a biotechnology company through clinical trials and product launches.”

“I’m eager to work more closely with the entire HART team to make bioengineered organs for the airways and esophagus available to patients,” said McGorry. “HART has the potential to change the way patients are treated with organ implants that the body integrates as its own. I look forward to working with the team and HART’s collaborators to make these goals a reality.”

McGorry most recently served as executive vice president and general manager, translational oncology solutions for Champions Oncology and previously was executive vice president of commercial operations at Accellent, which is now . During his 12-year tenure at Genzyme, he held leadership positions across several therapeutic areas, including bio surgery, cardiac surgery, oncology and transplant. McGorry also was president of Clineffect Systems, an electronic medical records company. He began his life-sciences career with Baxter Healthcare Corp., where he spent 11 years in positions of increasing responsibility. McGorry also served as an officer in the United States Army for six years, including commanding a special operations Green Beret SCUBA detachment.

McGorry has an M.B.A. with a concentration in healthcare from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business, and a B.S. in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was the president of his class.

HART plans to provide a corporate update on its second quarter financial call in August following a business review by Mr. McGorry and the management team.

Holliston, Mass.-based Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology is developing bioengineered organs for clinical use. The company’s first product, the HART-Trachea, is intended to replace or repair a trachea that has been severely damaged by either physical trauma or trachea cancer. The HART-Trachea technology has been used in several human trachea transplants to date approved under compassionate use exemptions, but none of the company’s products are yet approved by a government regulatory authority for marketing.