Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC (PPD) today announced that Mr Hacene Mekerri has joined the global contract research organization (CRO) to serve as vice president of its central laboratory organization.

"Hacene has a unique combination of data management and systems expertise, as well as extensive global central laboratory management experience, which make him ideally suited to lead our central laboratory organization," said Dr David Johnston, executive vice president of global laboratory services for PPD. "Hacene's leadership will advance PPD's integration of laboratory and clinical data to meet our customers' research needs."

PPD's central laboratory operations are supported by a comprehensive set of data solutions in Preclarus, PPD's award-winning clinical data platform. This capability enables study sites to access clean central lab data in real time, improve inventory management and order tracking, facilitate patient management and safety, and establish complete chain of custody for samples.

Mr Mekerri has more than 15 years of management experience in the drug development industry, including with laboratory companies, CROs and pharmaceutical companies. In his most recent posts, he served as managing director for the Asia Pacific region of a large CRO, as well as global director of data management and country head for a global central laboratory focused on late stage clinical trials. His expertise and successful track record have established Mekerri as a recognized industry leader.

Mr Mekerri received his bachelor's degree in business management at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France.