ZyGEM Corporation Appoints New Chief Executive to Be Based in the USA

HAMILTON, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZyGEM Corp Ltd, a leading developer and manufacturer of unique products for DNA extraction, today announced the appointment of Paul Kinnon as President and Chief Executive Officer. He joins the company from San Diego-based Invitrogen Corp where he held the positions of vice president of global strategic alliances and vice president and general manager of the Applied Markets business unit. During his tenure, he successfully increased revenues of the Applied Markets business unit and initiated and implemented strategic partnerships with IDEXX Corp, and more recently, the Chinese Center for Disease Control in advance of the 2008 Olympic Games.

ZyGEM products provide creative solutions for the life science markets, specifically; forensics, basic research and clinical applications using properties of unique enzymes that have been isolated from a proprietary ZyGEM culture collection. The ZyGEM technology and product portfolio is built around more than twenty years research and development on ZyGEM’s exclusive collection of microorganisms and fungi from extreme environments.

“Paul Kinnon is an outstanding business leader; we are delighted to welcome him to this CEO position as well as a board directorship. His proven record of success at Invitrogen and 18 years in the global life science market will significantly benefit ZyGEM, particularly as we expand international." said Neville Jordan, ZyGEM chairman of the board.

In his new position Paul will be charged with expanding ZyGEM further into the North American and European-based markets. He will be headquartered in San Diego, California.

Paul Kinnon said, “I look forward to continuing the innovative product development and accelerating our growth, while building the company internationally. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with a strong and influential board and to progress the New Zealand Biotechnology sector."

Paul Kinnon, an 18-year life sciences industry veteran, whose main areas of focus have been research-intensive pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academia and, more recently, applied markets, particularly forensics, food and water. Paul received a Bachelor of Applied Chemistry from Coventry University and a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He holds membership in the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals.

About ZyGEM

ZyGEM Corporation Limited is a rapidly growing biotechnology company with an innovative range of products, proprietary technologies with significant global market applications. ZyGEM produces DNA extraction and detection products, molecular biology enzymes, individual enzymes and diagnostics. It serves customers in the life science market including: basic research, forensics, clinical, sustainability and agriculture.

ZyGEM’s technology and product portfolio is built around more than twenty years research and development on ZyGEM’s exclusive collection of microorganisms from extreme environments. One of the first technologies developed and commercialized from this collection (and covered by international patents) is ideal for extraction of DNA. The new technology has major competitive advantages over existing and historical methods. (www.ZyGEM.com).