Auckland-based CoDaTherapeutics (NZ) Ltd. has announced the promotion of Tracey Sunderland to Chief Operating Officer.

In this position, Ms. Sunderland will oversee the integration and execution of CoDa’s operating strategy, including advancing all of its preclinical, clinical and regulatory programs, as well as financial management of the company in association with ongoing work with its US sister company, San Diego-based CoDa Therapeutics, Inc.

She will have direct responsibility in technical operations, business development, and high performance strategic planning efforts for the organization, including overall project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.

Ms. Sunderland has been with the company since the initiation of operations following a $27 million financing in October 2006, serving most recently as Manager of New Zealand Operations.

"It is a delight and a privilege to have Tracey as Chief Operating Officer of CoDaNZ," said Bradford J. Duft, President and CEO of CoDaUS.

“Her outstanding leadership, dedication, and results-orientated focus has been instrumental in CoDa’s growth, and she brings an unmatched energy and enthusiasm to our organization, as well as a proven ability to successfully drive operating, organizational and commercial strategies.

"Although required to juggle an extensive task list on a daily and weekly basis, Tracey consistently produces an extremely high volume of quality work. She approaches each task with reflection and creativity, and attention to detail, and thus can be given wide latitude in carrying out her responsibilities. I can rest assured that, notwithstanding her workload, Tracey will maintain a clear focus on strategy and the attainment of CoDa’s short and long term performance, operational, and financial goals."

Professor Colin Green, a co-founder and Director of CoDa, said, “As we move forward with our strategic plans, and pursue our goal of becoming a world-leader in wound healing, we are very excited about continuing to work with Tracey in her new role as Chief Operating Officer".

"This is an outstanding opportunity to help advance a premier specialty biopharmaceutical company at a very exciting time in its history," Ms Sunderland said.

"I believe that CoDa's strong technical position gives us flexibility to expand our portfolio, leverage our assets, and create a broader platform for sustainable growth as the company moves into multiple wound-healing clinical trials in 2008, and I'm excited to have a key role in that effort.”

Prior to joining CoDa as its Manager of New Zealand Operations in 2006, Ms. Sunderland was with Protemix Corporation. Before that she worked at LabPlus Auckland Healthcare, and Greenlane/National Women’s Hospital. Ms. Sunderland received her degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the Auckland Institute of Technology, where she majored in clinical biochemistry.