WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) today announced it has appointed Edward Ian as vice president of clinical development for Asia Pacific. Mr. Ian will be based in Singapore and will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for PPD's Phase II-IV business in the region.

"Edward Ian brings more than 15 years of clinical operations, central laboratory management, quality management systems and project management expertise through his long tenure with multinational companies in Asia Pacific and the United States," said Paul Colvin, executive vice president of global clinical development at PPD. "His expertise across a wide range of areas within the clinical research industry will play a significant role in advancing our strong position in this growing region."

Mr. Ian spent six years at a large, global contract research organization where he most recently served as executive director of scientific affairs responsible for Phase I-IV clinical operations in Asia Pacific. He also held the positions of regional director of operations and senior director of clinical operations for Asia Pacific, where he managed daily operations, set strategy and performance standards, and collaborated on business development initiatives. He began his career as a laboratory scientist and later served as director of business development and quality assurance for a regional CRO in Taiwan where he rose to executive vice president.

Mr. Ian earned his executive master's of business administration from National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan, and his bachelor of science in medical technology from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo.

PPD is one of the largest CROs operating in Asia Pacific with nearly 1,400 people and offices in 13 countries. The company offers a full range of drug discovery and development services from the region, including operating global central laboratories in China and Singapore.

PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing drug discovery, development and lifecycle management services. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 44 countries and more than 11,000 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a commitment to quality to help clients and partners accelerate the delivery of safe and effective therapeutics and maximize the returns on their R&D investments. For more information, visit www.ppdi.com.

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions, including statements, expectations and assumptions about the above named employee's performance and contributions to PPD and its clinical development business in Asia Pacific, contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although PPD attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based and could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Other important factors which could cause future results to differ materially include the following: the ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel, including a new CEO; competition in the outsourcing industry; international economic and political risks; overall global economic conditions; economic conditions and outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and government-sponsored research sectors; consolidation in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; PPD's ability to win new business; loss, delay or modification of large contracts; higher-than-expected cancellation rates; the rate of conversion of backlog into revenue; actual operating performance; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; risks associated with and dependence on strategic relationships; risks associated with acquisitions and investments, such as impairments and integration rapid technological advances that make our services less competitive; risks associated with fixed price contracts and cost overruns; compliance with drug development regulations; changes in the regulation of the drug development process; risks that we may increase, reduce or discontinue our annual dividend policy; and the ability to control SG&A spending. These and other PPD risk factors are set forth in more detail from time to time in our SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge upon request from PPD's investor relations department. PPD assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update these forward-looking statements in the future, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing PPD's estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

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PPD, Inc.
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