Roche's early development head Richard Scheller to retire

Richard Scheller is to step down as head of Roche's Genentech Research and Early Development (gRED) unit and retire at the end of the year.  

He will be replaced by Michael Varney, who is currently head of small molecule drug discovery at Genentech and whose appointment will also see his join Roche's enlarged corporate executive committee.  

Scheller (pictured right) joined Genentech in 2001 as senior vice president of research and was named executive vice president of research in September 2003 and appointed chief scientific officer in 2008.  

Severin Schwan, CEO of Roche, said: “I thank Richard Scheller for his outstanding contributions to the Roche Group. Genentech developed a number of important medicines under his leadership. Richard also contributed significantly to the successful integration of Genentech into the Roche Group.  

“It is my pleasure that with Mike Varney we could name a successor from within the gRED organisation. Mike brings a proven track record in the discovery and development of new medicines as well as considerable experience in leading research organisations.”  

Varney (pictured left) has been with Genentech since 2005, starting as vice president of small molecule drug discovery, and will begin his new role on 1 January 2015.