New VP for BIO State Government Relations Announced

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced yesterday that Fritz Bittenbender has been hired to serve as Vice President, Alliance Development and State Government Relations. Bittenbender brings extensive experience in government affairs and alliance development, most recently serving as Vice President of Public Affairs at Cephalon and as President of the CephalonCares Foundation.

Bittenbender will spearhead BIO’s engagement in and support of state-level legislative and regulatory issues while promoting the responsible development of the bioscience industry and better understanding of policy issues critical to the industry. He also will lead BIO's engagement with stakeholder organizations, including patient and disease advocacy groups.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Fritz Bittenbender to our team,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “His considerable experience in public policy and deep understanding of the biotechnology industry will be a tremendous asset for our members. Fritz's specific experience and expertise with state level public policy and regulatory issues will help us continue to advocate for public policies that enable our members to develop breakthrough technologies to cure disease, protect against bio-terrorism, feed the hungry, and clean our environment.”

Previously, Bittenbender held cabinet level positions in the offices of Pennsylvania Governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker. Additionally, Bittenbender served as president of Pennsylvania Bio, an affiliated organization to BIO.

“I have known and respected Fritz as a fellow public servant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for many years. Furthermore, his leadership and organizational support for the 2005 BIO International Convention, held in Philadelphia, were instrumental to the success and importance of the industry's biggest annual event,” said Greenwood.