In April 2022, Symeres acquired Organix, a US-based CRO specializing in lipid synthesis. To aid in the incorporation of Organix into the Symeres family, and facilitate future growth transitions, Richard Blaauw has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of Operations.
At the beginning of August, Richard began his two-year tenure as Director of Operations at Organix in Woburn, MA. He explains: “My responsibilities include streamlining processes, drafting standardized procedures, and formalizing management roles to help enable a smooth integration of Organix with Symeres.” He will also be supporting Anu Mahadevan (CEO) and Paul Blundell (President) by overseeing day-to-day operational duties, like resolving facility and equipment issues.
Richard earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Amsterdam, working on the total synthesis of solanoeclepin A. There, he discovered his passion for being creative and solving complex chemical problems. He moved on to found Chiralix in 2002, which was acquired by Symeres in 2017. Richard’s last position before moving to Organix in the USA was Director of Chemistry at Symeres Nijmegen, where he led the parallel chemistry department. “I thought I would be a perfect fit for Organix due to my previous experience of setting up Chiralix, as well as working for several years within the larger organization of Symeres,” Richard says. He has an adventurous attitude and saw this move as a great opportunity to provide a unique change of pace.
In his short time at Organix so far, Richard has experienced a warm welcome and already feels at home. He aims to provide a positive contribution and encourages open dialogue and prompt communication about any problems or concerns. “Besides making sure that our day-to-day operation keeps running smoothly, there is always a need for continuous improvements in health, safety, and environmental protocols that I intend to address,” Richard adds. A longer-term objective is to provide stability and simplification to the organization, to enable sustainable future growth of the company. One important step for the growth of Organix is the realization of an additional facility, which is currently under construction in Woburn and is scheduled to be completed in early 2024. “I am happy to be part of the great team of people at Organix and I am looking forward to a bright and successful future together,” he concludes.
