California Life Sciences Association Welcomes New Members to its Board of Directors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2016 -- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) today announced that its board of directors has appointed two new members: Robert Ford, Executive Vice President, Medical Devices, Abbott and Mark Ginestro, Principal, Healthcare and Life Sciences, KPMG LLP. CLSA is the nation's largest statewide life sciences public policy advocacy and business solutions organization serving over 750 life sciences organizations.

"We are excited to welcome Robert Ford and Mark Ginestro to CLSA's board of directors," said Sara Radcliffe, CLSA President & CEO. "They bring extraordinary business and leadership expertise and experience to our growing organization. Their participation in our board will inform and strengthen our work in shaping public policy and driving solutions to help grow and foster California's life sciences sector. I'm very grateful for their support and that of their leading edge companies."

About Robert Ford

Robert Ford is Executive Vice President, Medical Devices at Abbott. He was appointed to his current position in June 2015. Previously, Ford served as Senior Vice President, Diabetes Care. Ford joined Abbott in 1996 as a Diagnostics Business Unit Manager for Abbott Brazil. He held various positions of increasing responsibility for Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Nutrition International and Abbott Diabetes Care, including Vice President, Diabetes Care, and Commercial Operations. Prior to joining Abbott, Ford held a marketing position with Becton Dickinson Brazil, where he worked in the consumer products division. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston College and masters of business administration from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

About Mark Ginestro

Mark Ginestro is a principal in KPMG's Strategy Practice focusing on healthcare and life sciences. He brings 20 years of experience in strategy, market research, acquisition integration, divestiture carve-out, process improvement, regulatory compliance, organizational effectiveness, and change management. Ginestro has experience in all aspects of life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, and healthcare distribution. Ginestro also leads KPMG's initiatives and thought leadership in biosimilars. Ginestro's recent publications include How to Complete and Win in a World with Biosimilars and Medical Device Trends. Ginestro is a board member and past president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Northern California.

Contact:
Will Zasadny
Manager, Communications
[email protected]
619-961-8848

About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the leading voice driving innovation for California's life sciences sector. We work closely with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to shape public policy, drive business solutions and grow California's life sciences innovation ecosystem. CLSA serves over 750 biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged to create the state's most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

CONTACT: Will Zasadny
         Manager, Communications
         [email protected]
         619-961-8848