Centogene Holding AG (formerly Arcensus AG), parent company of a group of diagnostic laboratories, announced today that Michael Schlenk, former CEO of ProBioGen AG joined the management as Chief Executive Officer effective January 2011. He also invested and became a major shareholder. The diagnostic laboratories, operated under the name of Centogene™, are an internationally active global leader in the field of molecular diagnostics for Rare Diseases.
In addition to many years as management consultant in the area of technology transfer Michael Schlenk has more than 20 years of international life science experience. Before he successfully sold ProBioGen AG, a Biotechnology company from Berlin, in 2010 to the Egyptian healthcare company Minapharm, he worked in Brazil, Austria, the US, Thailand, Switzerland for multinational companies like Abbott and Novartis (formerly Sandoz) as President, General Manager and Area Manager. He graduated as Diplom-Kaufmann from the University of Hamburg, Germany and later earned his M.B.A. Degree from University of Bradford Management Centre, U.K.
The group of companies, financed entirely without venture capital, generates a strong cash flow from a rapidly increasing diagnostics business in the field of Rare Diseases. The companies, with active laboratories in Rostock, Vienna and Freiburg are offering the largest number of different genetic analyses worldwide. Speed to adapt the organisation and prepare for systematic growth maintaining highest level of quality standards are key drivers for continued success.
Besides his responsibilities for the overall corporate development Michael Schlenk will actively drive Centogene’s international expansion through partnerships and collaborations.
“With the addition of Michael Schlenk we will strengthen our team and prepare Centogene for the next stage of development to expand beyond todays focus on Rare Diseases” commented Prof Dr Arndt Rolfs, founder and Head of the Supervisory Board, professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Rostock and head of the Albrecht-Kossel-Institute for Neuroregeneration, both Rostock, Germany.
Contact:
Christoph Ehlers, CFO
press@centogene.com
Freiburg, Germany