ThromboGenics NV, a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for diabetic eye disease, announces that the Board has appointed long-time non-executive director Thomas Clay as its next chairman. The appointment, effective 15 June 2017, coincides with the retirement of ThromboGenics' current Chairman of the Board, Staf Van Reet, PhD.

Thomas Clay is Vice-President of East Hill Management, a US-based investment company. He also serves as the Chairman and CEO of Golden Queen Mining Co., Ltd., and is a director of the Clay Mathematics Institute.

A graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University, and Harvard Business School, Thomas Clay has been a non-executive Director of ThromboGenics NV since 2011. In that year, he replaced his father, Landon T. Clay, who led the first external investment in ThromboGenics back in 2001 when the Company was private.

Thomas Clay, chairman of ThromboGenics NV, commented: "I am very honored to be appointed as Chairman of the Board of ThromboGenics nv at a time when the Company is starting to make excellent progress with its exciting pipeline of four novel therapies for treatment of diabetic eye disease.  At East Hill Management, we understand that investing in new drug development requires a long term commitment, and we are pleased to see that the investments that ThromboGenics has made in recent years are bearing fruit. I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues on the Board for placing their trust in me, and I would like to thank Staf Van Reet for his many years of excellent service to ThromboGenics."

Patrik De Haes, MD, CEO of Thrombogenics NV, commented: "It has truly been an honor and a privilege to work alongside Staf Van Reet, first as a director and, more recently, as Chairman of the Board. On behalf of the Management, I would like to express my gratitude for the many years of excellent collaboration that we have enjoyed. I wish Staf the very best in his well-deserved retirement.  At the same time, I am delighted that Thomas has agreed to take on the role of Chairman. His rich experience and deep understanding of ThromboGenics and lifesciences in general, will be invaluable for the Company in achieving its objectives going forward."