Affymax, Inc. announced the promotion of Christine Conroy, Pharm.D., to senior vice president, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, as well as Tim Varacek to vice president, Sales and Account Management. The company also announced Robert F. Venteicher, Ph.D., will retire as company's senior vice president, technical operations effective March 31, 2013. Dr. Conroy had served as vice president, Corporate Quality and Regulatory Affairs for Affymax since December 2011.

She served as vice president Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Quality Assurance from July 2007 to November 2011, and she held positions with increasing levels of responsibility in Regulatory Affairs from October 2004 to July 2007. Before joining Affymax, Dr. Conroy held various senior level positions in the regulatory departments of Genitope Corporation and Roche Global Development. She started her career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1989 at Syntex Laboratories, Inc. in the Medical Services Department.

Mr. Varacek had served as executive director, Sales and Account Management for Affymax since April 2011. Prior to joining Affymax, he served in various executive roles in Sales Management, and from January 2007 through March 2011 was responsible for managing national accounts for Amgen's nephrology franchise. During his tenure at Amgen, he also served in various management positions within Marketing and Sales Operations.

Prior to Amgen, Mr. Varacek held positions in Sales, Sales Management and Sales Training at Bristol-Myers Squibb Inc.