IBIO taps Walbert as chairman

DEERFIELD - Timothy P. Walbert has been elected as chairman of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Oroganization board of directors and succeeds Andrew Hull, vice president of Global Alliances at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, who served as chairman for the past two years

Hull will continue to serve on the board and executive committee as immediate past chairman.

Walbert is the chairman, president and CEO of Horizon Pharma PLC, a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing, acquiring and commercializing differentiated and accessible medicines that address unmet medical needs. Horizon is based in Dublin, Ireland, with operations in Deerfield and Chicago. He joined the company in 2008 and under his leadership, Horizon Pharma has experienced unprecedented growth and success. Horizon Pharma was named the fastest growing company in Illinois and ranked first in Chicago in revenue growth across all business sectors by Crain's Chicago Business in 2014. Walbert has built Horizon into a global company of more than 800 employees with offices in four countries.

IBIO, founded in 2002, is the industry organization for biotechnology companies in the biomedical pharmaceutical, medical device and agricultural bioprocessing and bio-industrial sectors in Illinois. IBIO has over 100 members ranging from early-stage startup to Fortune 500 companies.