A biotech CEO who was hired during the height of the BLM movement to change the company’s image as a Republican has resigned as a result of a disagreement with awake board members over its emphasis on social justice.
In 2020, BIO recruited Michelle McMurry-Heath to implement “radical transformation” within the organization.
She was praised for becoming the first black person to get an M.D.-Ph.D. from Duke University and was hailed as a social justice activist.
She resigned from her position less than two years later, citing disagreements with the board of directors on the company’s emphasis.
The Wall Street Journal reports industry insiders who claim that McMurry-Heath wanted to concentrate on the company’s medicinal origins while others wanted to focus more on social justice programs. She and they have not publicly addressed the disagreement.
The details of such projects are yet unknown.
Rachel King, an interim CEO, has taken her position at this time.
McMurry-Heath said in an interview conducted shortly after being hired by the health news website Stat News: “I was brought in to create radical change.” Change is difficult.
Already, BIO has a division called BIOEquality that works to increase access to healthcare for all people.
The organization also contains unique chances for women and underrepresented minorities and invests in “the future generation of scientists.”
A corporate spokeswoman declined to clarify whether any other social justice projects are in the works.
The new CEO recently made a statement about how excited she was to work on “critical policy challenges linked to health, agriculture, and the environment.”
“To promote human health and wellbeing, our work advances research and technology and engages people from all walks of life.
The BIO plan is still on track, she said.