Avacta Group, a listed biotechnology company, has appointed Shaun Chilton as its new non-executive chairman. Chilton replaces Eliot Forster, who is stepping down from the board immediately. Chilton has been a non-executive director at Avacta since June 2023 and previously served as CEO of Clinigen Group, where he led its sale to Triton Partners for approximately £1.3 billion in 2022.

With over 30 years of experience in leading and managing both private and public businesses, Chilton brings a wealth of expertise to Avacta. He expressed his enthusiasm for the role, highlighting the potential of Avacta's pre|CISION platform to revolutionize cancer treatment. Chilton emphasized the board's commitment to evolving and supporting this platform to maximize opportunities for patients and shareholders.

Chilton also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Eliot Forster, praising his guidance, leadership, and extensive experience in drug development and company building. Forster's contacts in both public and private sectors across Europe and the US have been beneficial to Avacta.

Christina Coughlin, Avacta's recently appointed CEO, expressed her eagerness to work with Chilton in his new role. She noted his awareness of the potential within Avacta's oncology pipeline and their shared goal of delivering value to patients and shareholders. Coughlin also thanked Forster for his leadership during the transition period.

The appointment of Chilton is seen as a strategic move to leverage his extensive experience in the biopharma industry, particularly in oncology, to drive Avacta's growth and innovation.