Dr. Charles E. Hewett Named V.P. & COO of The Jackson Laboratory

Date: March 12, 2004

Bar Harbor, Maine-Charles E. Hewett, Ph.D., a Maine policy leader and executive with a background in state government, energy systems management and international pharmaceutical development, has been named vice president and chief operating officer of The Jackson Laboratory. Dr. Hewett will join the senior management team and report to Laboratory Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D. 

Hewett, a Lewiston native, comes to the nonprofit genetics research institute from the Cianbro Companies of Pittsfield, a $300 million infrastructure construction company where he had been vice president, secretary and clerk since 1998.

Previously, Hewett served as chief operating officer for the State of Maine Executive Branch (1995 to 1998) during the first three years of Governor Angus King's administration. Prior to joining the King administration, Hewett worked for Hafslund Nycomed AS, a Norwegian-headquartered energy and pharmaceutical firm, from 1987 to 1995. Hewett served as the founding chief executive officer and managing director of that company's Irish subsidiary, manufacturer of x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging contrast media to improve soft-tissue imaging.

"Chuck's credentials are ideally suited for our organization," Woychik noted. "He has demonstrated an ability to drive process improvements and create effective and efficient organizations. He has a strong financial orientation and has managed manufacturing, finance, facilities and marketing. Additionally, his doctoral training at Yale and his intense curiosity for scientific research give him the academic and scientific orientation that will allow him to thrive in the culture of the Laboratory.  He is a perfect fit for our new senior management team, and I am very excited about having him here."

In the past 10 years, The Jackson Laboratory's staff has more than doubled to 1,300 and its budget has grown from $37 million to $127 million. The Laboratory's 37 research groups study every major human disease and develop new biomedical technologies and information systems.

The Jackson Laboratory also distributes genetically defined JAX® Mice from more than 2,700 varieties to biomedical research laboratories all over the world on a not-for-profit basis, provides customized mouse breeding services (JAX® Services) and is the home of the Mouse Genome Database and other publicly available information resources. The Laboratory's courses, conference and education and training programs draw more than 2,000 students and established scientists each year to Bar Harbor.

As COO, Hewett will oversee operations for the not-for-profit business called JAX Research Systems, which includes JAX® Mice and JAX® Services.  He will also provide managerial oversight for scientific support services, and Laboratory-wide operations such as human resources, finance, information technology and purchasing.

Hewett said, "The Jackson Laboratory is truly a leading edge organization; our scientists continue to make outstanding breakthroughs in basic genetic research that are fundamentally enhancing health care, and our mice and services make discoveries possible at laboratories all over the world.

"I loved being in the health care industry in Ireland," he added. "For me to be part of an organization that is shaping the future of health care research right here in my home state of Maine is really a dream come true."

# # #

Note to editors: An electronic photo of Chuck Hewett can be obtained by contacting the Public Information Office (pubinfo@jax.org, 207-288-6051).

Contact(s): Joyce Peterson, 207-288-6058, joyce@jax.org

For information on automatic email delivery of news releases (journalists only), please send an email request for details to news@jax.org.

Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6051
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org