A Medical Device Daily

Evan Jones, chairman and CEO of Digene (Gaithersburg, Maryland), expects to retire as CEO during the company's 2007 fiscal year, once a successor has been appointed. Jones has been CEO of Digene for the last 16 years, which includes Digene's 10 years as a public company.

Jones helped build Digene into a leading women's health and molecular diagnostic testing company with rapidly growing revenues now in excess of $150 million annually, profitable operations and a strong balance sheet with over $130 million in cash.

Jones expects to continue as a member of the Digene board of directors. The board will oversee the search for a new CEO and is in the process of retaining an executive search firm.

“Digene is in a period of growth, prosperity and strength and fiscal 2007 is an excellent time to recruit a strong, new CEO to help execute Digene's strategic plans for the future,” Jones said. “After 16 years as CEO, it is time for me to move on to the next phase of my professional career. I plan to spend time with my family, pursue several philanthropic interests and explore other professional opportunities. My goal, as a member of the board of directors, is to use my experience with the company to help Digene in the next stage of its growth and to help complete a successful transition to a new CEO.”