IP Industry Greets New Year With Staff Changes

Two separate trade associations this week announced leadership changes to kick off the New Year.

The International Trademark Association (INTA) named its 2010 president on 1 January. Heather Steinmeyer, lead counsel for intellectual property at WellPoint Inc, a US Fortune 50 insurance and healthcare company, already served numerous functions at INTA. She was treasurer and chair of the INTA Finance Committee in 2006, vice president in 2007-2008, and member of the Board of Directors from 2002 to 2004, according to the INTA website.

As INTA president, Steinmeyer will serve as chair of the Executive Committee. She said in a release that the focus will be on brand protection, especially on the internet, according to INTA.

Meanwhile, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) named Andrew Witty as its new president. Witty has been the chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) since 2008. Before that he served as GSK’s president, pharmaceuticals Europe. He also acted as EFPIA vice-president since 2008, according to an EFPIA press release.

“Europe needs a 21st century approach to healthcare, one that provides access to optimal and equitable quality of care in a manner that is sustainable. We need policies that make this a reality, as well as policies that recognise innovation,” Witty said.

Under Witty in 2009, GSK took the step of contributing to a patent pool intended to increase innovation on medicines for neglected diseases (IPW, Public Health, 25 February 2009; IPW, Public Health, 16 June 2009).