Illumina CEO resigns amid pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn
The board of Illumina Inc. has accepted the resignation of its CEO, effective immediately.
The Associated Press
June 11, 2023
New York (AP) -- Illumina Inc., a maker of gene sequencing tests, announced Sunday that the board had accepted Francis deSouza's resignation as CEO and Director, with immediate effect.
Charles Dadswell has been appointed interim CEO while the board searches for a new chief executive officer. Illumina announced that deSouza will continue to serve as a consultant until July 31, despite having been at the company since 2013. He was appointed CEO in 2013 and has worked there ever since.
Stephen P. MacMillan said that Illumina's technology is at the forefront in DNA sequencing. It has set the pace for industry. We are confident that Illumina will continue to achieve its goals while we complete the CEO search.
The board of the company, which is based in San Diego said it was looking for both internal and external candidates.
Illumina is locked in a heated months-long battle with activist Carl Icahn over its $7.1 Billion acquisition of cancer tests maker Grail, which has faced regulatory obstacles. Icahn urged shareholders vote out deSouza and its chairman John Thompson. Thompson was voted out by company shareholders in late May.
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The Associated Press