Star Scientific Inc. will start next year off with a new leader after its chief executive stepped down on December 27, 2013. As previously announced last month, Star Scientific Inc. said CEO and founder Jonnie R. Williams Sr. and president Paul Perito resigned at its shareholders meeting in Washington, D.C., though each will stay on in some capacity for another year. Dr. Michael Mullan, CEO of the private research centre Roskamp Institute, replaced Williams following the meeting.

Mullan also heads Archer Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is a British researcher who previously headed an Alzheimer's research centre at the University of South Florida. He has designed studies assessing the effect of the compound on mice. Dr. Christopher Chapman, who runs a pharmaceutical consulting firm, will serve as president.

In a regulatory filing, the company said Williams plans to continue as a non-executive employee for one year to help with patent prosecutions and new product development. Perito intends to serve as vice-president and senior counsel of legal and regulatory affairs for one year to manage ongoing litigation.