The Avoca Group, an industry-leading consulting and research organization specializing in clinical outsourcing and alliance management, is pleased to announce that Steven Whittaker has joined the Avoca Quality Consortium as its Executive Director.

1.
For
Immediate
Release
Media
Contact:
General
Information:
Brittany
Hutt
Caryn
Laermer,
Senior
Manager,
Quality
Consortium
Brit@Socialsurgeinteractive.com
caryn.laermer@theavocagroup.com
(610)
212-­‐1230
(609)
799-­‐0511
The
Avoca
Group
Announces
Steven
Whittaker
as
Executive
Director
of
The
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
PRINCETON,
NJ
(July
9,
2013)
–
The
Avoca
Group,
an
industry-­‐leading
consulting
and
research
organization
specializing
in
clinical
outsourcing
and
alliance
management,
is
pleased
to
announce
that
Steven
Whittaker
has
joined
the
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
as
its
Executive
Director.
The
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
brings
together
quality,
outsourcing
and
operational
professionals
from
member
Pharma,
Biotech
and
CRO
organizations
to
accelerate
the
development
of
best
practices
and
industry
standards
for
proactive
quality
management.
Whittaker,
who
played
an
instrumental
part
in
last
year’s
Quality
Consortium
and
Quality
Summit,
will
be
leading
the
Avoca
Quality
Consortium’s
initiatives,
collaborations,
and
member
and
industry
meeting
development.
His
years
working
in
drug
development
leadership
roles
and
his
working
relationship
with
professionals
across
the
industry
provide
a
unique
and
valuable
combination
for
the
Avoca
Quality
Consortium.
“I
am
very
enthusiastic
about
committing
to
the
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
in
this
new
capacity,”
said
Whittaker.
“It’s
very
gratifying
to
see
leaders
within
the
industry
assemble
to
address
the
important
topic
of
managing
and
enhancing
quality
in
outsourced
clinical
trials.
I
am
thrilled
to
be
part
of
this
top-­‐tier
effort.”
After
retiring
from
Eli
Lilly
and
Company
in
2009,
where
he
served
as
Chief
Operating
Officer/
Senior
Director
of
Operations
and
Project
Management
for
the
Cardiovascular/Acute
Care
Platform,
Whittaker
has
worked
as
an
independent
consultant
in
the
Pharma,
CRO,
and
Biotech
industry.
As
a
consultant,
he
has
provided
his
expertise
in
project
management,
pharmaceutical
development,
clinical
development,
outsourcing
strategies
and
execution
plans.
Whittaker
has

2. also
served
for
thirteen
consecutive
years
on
the
advisory
board
for
the
annual
Partnerships
in
Clinical
Trials
program,
chairing
the
board
for
two
years.
“As
the
leader
of
the
Global
Clinical
Research
Sourcing
Office
at
Lilly
and,
more
recently,
as
their
COO
of
the
cardiovascular
platform
of
products,
Steve
brings
to
the
Consortium
a
wealth
of
hands-­‐on
experience
in
organizational
management.
In
addition,
through
his
roles
in
facilitating
Executive
sessions
with
IIR
and
Linking
Leaders,
Steve
has
a
current
knowledge
of
challenges
and
opportunities
facing
the
industry.
He
will
be
an
important
voice
in
helping
the
Consortium
shape
and
manage
initiatives
and
The
Avoca
Group
is
excited
to
have
him
take
on
this
leadership
role,”
stated
Patricia
Leuchten,
CEO
and
Founder
of
The
Avoca
Group.
About
The
Avoca
Group
The
Avoca
Group
is
an
industry-­‐leading
organization
providing
survey
research,
consulting
services
and
training
in
the
areas
of
clinical
outsourcing,
business
development,
strategic
alliances
and
client
service.
Founded
by
industry
veteran
Patricia
Leuchten
in
1999,
the
company
works
exclusively
in
the
health
care
industry
and
has
a
focus
on
relationship
management.
To
inquire
about
membership
in
the
Quality
Consortium,
please
contact
Danya
Burakoff
619-­‐
994-­‐8677
or
visit
the
Avoca
Quality
Summit
website
at:
http://theavocagroup.com/QualityConsortium
###