Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD), a leading provider of data management
solutions for clinical trials and drug safety, today announced that
Michael Owings has been appointed to the newly created role of chief
privacy officer. Owings, 55, has held the position of vice president,
quality and regulatory compliance at Phase Forward since 2004, and will
continue in that related role.
As chief privacy officer, Owings will be responsible for all privacy and
data protection policies and best practices affecting Phase Forward’s
customers, partners and employees, and ensuring compliance with all
relevant regulations. He has been accredited as a Certified Information
Privacy Professional through the International Association of Privacy
Professionals.
"In his nine years with Phase Forward, Michael has been instrumental in
building the company’s reputation as a leader in regulatory compliance,”
said Bob Weiler, chairman and CEO of Phase Forward. "This new role is a
natural extension of Michael’s in-depth knowledge of compliance issues,
and he will help to ensure that our policies and products meet the
highest possible standards for processing and storing sensitive data.”
"I look forward to this new role, particularly in light of the
challenges customers are facing in an increasingly complex regulatory
environment,” said Owings. "My mission is to help ensure that Phase
Forward continues to be an expert resource for our customers regarding
the latest standards and policies in this fast-changing area.”
Prior to becoming a vice president at Phase Forward, Owings served as
director, quality and regulatory affairs from 2002 to 2004, and in other
quality affairs and regulatory management roles at the company from 2000
to 2002. Prior to joining Phase Forward, Owings held various positions
at Copley Pharmaceutical, at Procept and at Marion Merrell Dow
(HMR/Aventis).
About Phase Forward
Phase Forward is a leading provider of integrated data management
solutions for clinical trials and drug safety. Phase Forward’s products
and services have been utilized in over 10,000 clinical trials involving
more than 1,000,000 clinical trial study participants at over 300
organizations and regulatory agencies worldwide including: AstraZeneca,
Boston Scientific, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Eli Lilly, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, GlaxoSmithKline, Harvard Clinical Research
Institute, Merck Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, PAREXEL International,
Procter & Gamble, Quintiles, sanofi-aventis, Schering-Plough Research
Institute, Servier, SGS, Tibotec and the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency. Additional information about Phase Forward
is available at www.phaseforward.com.
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on
historical information are forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or
implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things,
continued service of its executive personnel and its ability to stay
abreast of evolving regulatory standards. These statements are neither
promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond Phase Forward's control, which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated
in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, changes in laws and
regulations affecting Phase Forward’s customers and the ability of Phase
Forward to retain its executive personnel. Existing and prospective
investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Phase Forward undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional
disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by Phase Forward, see
the disclosure contained in Phase Forward's public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, its
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.