Provexis appoints new science chief

(Sharecast News) - Health foods outfit Provexis named Dr Niamh O'Kennedy as its new chief scientific officer on Friday.O'Kennedy, a research chemist specialising in the field of natural products chemistry, has been working with Provexis since 2000 in the development of the AIM-listed group's lead product, Fruitflow, and the health claim for the product, which was eventually adopted by the European Food Safety Authority.In addition to O'Kennedy's appointment, finance director Ian Ford's role has been expanded to chief financial officer and chief operating officer and executive chairman Dawson Buck has moved into a non-executive chairman role, effective immediately.Buck said: "The company remains well placed to maximise the numerous commercial opportunities which the company and DSM have been pursuing for Fruitflow, to include the company's planned collaboration with By-health in the vast Chinese market, and Niamh is expected to play an important role for the business as these opportunities are progressed."As of 0830 BST, Provexis shares had picked up 3.64% to 0.28p.