Galapagos NV announced the appointment of Dr. Walid Abi-Saab to the role of Chief Medical Officer, beginning on 1 March 2017. The Chief Medical Officer will be a member of the Executive Committee and drive the overall medical strategy of the Company. The CMO has responsibility for late stage clinical development and operations, medical and regulatory affairs, and safety. He will be a key participant in the Company's strategic planning, partnering discussions, and presentations to investors and other stakeholders. Previously, Walid Abi-Saab was with Shire Pharmaceuticals where he held various clinical development leadership roles, most recently as Group Vice President, Global Clinical Development - Therapeutic Area Head, Gastro-intestinal, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Prior to that, he led clinical development activities at Novartis, Abbott Laboratories, and Pfizer, addressing a wide range of therapeutic areas and leading teams throughout the clinical development process.