Salah Kivlighn, Ph.D., Named Senior VP of Strategic Marketing and Program Operations at USP

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) announced that Salah D. Kivlighn, Ph.D., has assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Program Operations (SMPO). Dr. Kivlighn reports to USP's Chief Executive Officer, Ronald T. Piervincenzi, and is a member of the organization's executive team.

A new division in the organizational structure, Strategic Marketing and Program Operations will work in direct partnership with USP's Science Division responsible for the technical and scientific development of USP's quality standards. SMPO will focus on understanding customer needs and specifications, monitoring marketing efficiency and effectiveness and further developing USP's brand strategy.

"Being able to better understand the unmet and emerging needs of our key stakeholders will enable USP to strengthen its quality-related programs in chemical medicines, biologics, excipients, dietary supplements, food ingredients and healthcare practice," said Dr. Kivlighn. The SMPO unit for each of these areas will report to Dr. Kivlighn

Most recently, Dr. Kivlighn was Vice President of Marketing at Kite Pharma, a company focused on cell-based immuno-oncology. For eight years, Kivlighn held global leadership positions in product development and marketing at MedImmune, where he was responsible for regulatory filings; clinical and commercial development and chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) related to numerous oncology and autoimmunity products. Dr. Kivlighn also led marketing teams and initiatives at NABI Biopharmaceuticals and Merck & Co., Inc. related to pipelines, launches and planning for vaccine and cardiovascular products.

Dr. Kivlighn received a B.S. in Distributed Studies from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Houston. Dr. Kivlighn also completed a fellowship in integrated physiology in the Department of Physiology at the University of Mississippi Medical School. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and has completed a variety of executive training programs at the Wharton School of Business.

"Being able to leverage the kind of expertise and experience Salah brings with him to USP will help optimize the public health impact of each of our program units," said Dr. Piervincenzi. "We're pleased to have Salah as part of the USP leadership team."

For additional information, contact mediarelations@usp.org.

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The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a global health organization that improves lives through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP's standards are used worldwide. For more information about USP, visit http://www.usp.org.