Technology

Flagship Pioneering Expands Leadership Team with Key Appointments and Promotions

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Flagship Pioneering, the bioplatform innovation company, today announced additions to its leadership team through key executive appointments and promotions. Today’s personnel announcement accompanies Flagship’s announced expansion of its capital base with a capital pool of $3.6 billion to support the origination and growth of an estimated 25 breakthrough platform companies in human health, sustainability, and AI.

Lovisa Afzelius, Ph.D., has been promoted to General Partner. Afzelius joined Flagship in 2020 after leading Pfizer’s systems immunology function, where she served as executive director of clinical programs. A computational scientist by training, Afzelius came to Flagship with twenty years of leadership experience. Afzelius’ past roles included CEO, co-founder, president, chairperson of the board, and executive director in both emerging biotech and large pharma companies.

“Lovisa has showcased her exemplary leadership, vision, and commitment to pioneering original science, as evidenced by her instrumental role in the creation and scaling-up of Alltrna, Apriori Bio, Metaphore Biotechnologies, and Prologue Medicines,” said Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. “I am pleased with the promotion of Lovisa to General Partner, and look forward to her continued dedication to our mission.”

Paul Biondi has also been promoted to General Partner. Biondi joined Flagship in 2019 following nearly two decades at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), where he most recently served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. As President of Flagship’s Pioneering Medicines, Biondi has grown the initiative into a robust drug development unit with a leading team of experts who bring a broad set of capabilities to Flagship and its platforms. Under Biondi’s leadership, Pioneering Medicines has established strategic partnerships with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer.

“In just four years since he joined Flagship, Paul has transformed then nascent Pioneering Medicines into an innovation powerhouse, where thanks to his vision and leadership, we boast an R&D unit full of experts who bring an array of drug research, design and development capabilities to our organization,” said Afeyan. “The strategic partnerships he has established signify not just a tremendous opportunity for patient impact and value creation, but represent a new, innovation supply chain model for collaborations within the broader biopharma ecosystem. Beyond this, Paul has provided instrumental leadership in various capacities across Flagship and has positively impacted our growth trajectory.”

Dina Ciarimboli has been appointed as General Counsel and Executive Partner to oversee legal, corporate, IP, compliance, and related matters for Flagship Pioneering and its ecosystem of internally-operated companies. She was most recently General Counsel at EQRx, and brings over 30 years of experience advising life sciences companies and venture capital funds on corporate strategy and operations spanning company creation, early research, clinical development, and commercial launch. Ciarimboli leads legal, corporate, IP, compliance, and related matters for Flagship Pioneering and its early stage, wholly owned companies.

“We are pleased to have Dina Ciarimboli on board as our General Counsel,” added Afeyan. “Dina’s impressive track record includes over three decades of invaluable experience advising life sciences companies and venture capital funds, which makes her a great fit for this role. Dina’s expert guidance and counsel have quickly become an asset to Flagship and its wholly-owned companies.”

Marcello Damiani has been appointed Senior Partner with a responsibility for guiding and supporting Flagship and its ecosystem companies on digital, IT strategy and operations. Damiani joins Flagship from Moderna where he served as Chief Digital and Operational Excellence Officer, developing and leading a digitization strategy using cutting edge technologies such as robotics, automation cloud computing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning in support of Moderna’s transition from preclinical through to commercial therapeutics.

“Marcello executed a potent digitization strategy during his time at Moderna, using advanced technologies like robotics, automation, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, and his expertise makes him an invaluable addition to our team,” added Afeyan.

Gary Pisano, Ph.D., a long-time contributor to Flagship and for the last year an academic partner while on sabbatical from Harvard Business School, has joined Flagship full time as Executive Partner and Chief Strategist. Pisano most recently served as the Harry E. Figgie, Jr. Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, where he served as Senior Associate Dean for Promotions and Tenure and has taught MBA, executive, and doctoral courses. As Chief Strategist, Pisano is tasked with tackling the broad strategic and business model choices facing Flagship with a focus on operating effectively and efficiently at scale. Pisano will also be an important resource to Flagship companies on strategy and business model design.

“We have long valued Gary’s insight and strategy at Flagship, and we are pleased to welcome him as our Chief Strategist,” added Afeyan. “Gary’s counsel and singular understanding of the Flagship model will allow him to tackle the broad strategic and business choices facing Flagship with a focus on operating effectively and efficiently at scale. A key part of his role will be helping us leverage the company’s nearly 25 years of experience, and ensuring that Flagship operates on the leading edge of management, strategy, and leadership practice.”

Enhancing Flagship’s Leadership Team

Flagship further enhanced its leadership team with the following executive appointments and elevations:

Junaid Bajwa, M.D., will join Flagship in early September as Senior Partner and Head of United Kingdom, and Science Partner for Pioneering Intelligence. He will focus on advancing new strategic opportunities and partnerships in the region for Flagship and its companies. Bajwa will join Flagship from Microsoft Research where he has been serving as Chief Medical Scientist focusing on how trusted, reliable, and human-centered AI can transform the practice of medicine. He will bring over two decades of experience across primary care, secondary care, and public health settings, and has worked as a payer and policymaker in the UK, specializing in informatics, digital transformation, and leadership.David Khougazian was recently promoted to Executive Partner, Growth and Head of Global Engagement. David brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the global healthcare industry including over two decades at Sanofi.Justine Levin-Allerhand, Ph.D., was recently promoted to Executive Partner, Origination and Corporate Development to maximize the effectiveness of Flagship’s origination teams, thereby fueling its ecosystem with exceptional company generation and novel, durable scientific platforms.Mark Stevenson joined Flagship as Senior Partner. In this role, he will help advance Flagship’s new Enabling Technologies Initiative (ETI) and focus on driving our external partnerships. Mark brings over 30 years in the life science industry to this role, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Thermo Fisher.Flagship has also expanded its rank of origination partners through the promotions of Kyle Chiang, Molly Gibson, Scott Lipnick, Armen Mkrtchyan, and Jacob Rubens.

“Flagship is dedicated to hiring and nurturing world-class executives with a history of extraordinary performance, and with these additions to our already robust leadership team, I believe we are in the strongest place we’ve been in our nearly 25-year history,” added Afeyan. “We are pleased to congratulate our colleagues on their new and expanded leadership roles. We look forward to their collaboration as we build on our mission to invent transformative technologies and companies that improve human health and the sustainability of our planet.”

About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds bioplatform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $75 billion in aggregate value. To date, Flagship has deployed over $3.8 billion in capital toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $27 billion of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 40 companies, including Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Sana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: SANA), Generate Biomedicines, Inari, Indigo Agriculture, and Tessera Therapeutics.

Media Contact

press@flagshippioneering.com

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SOURCE Flagship Pioneering

Technology

Meridian Singapore Immigration Launches New Website to Simplify the PR Application Journey for Foreigners in Singapore

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

New online platform provides clear, structured guidance for Employment Pass and S Pass holders navigating Singapore’s residency and Permanent Residency pathways

SINGAPORE, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Meridian Singapore Immigration Pte. Ltd. has officially launched its new website at meridianimmigration.sg, a resource built specifically for foreigners living and working in Singapore who are exploring Permanent Residency or long-term residency options.

The platform arrives at a time when Singapore’s expatriate and foreign professional community is growing rapidly, yet many EP and S Pass holders report struggling to find clear, reliable information on the PR application process. Singapore’s immigration framework is among the most structured in Southeast Asia, with eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and submission windows that change frequently. For individuals navigating this process without professional guidance, the stakes are high and the margin for error is narrow.

Meridian’s website was built to address that gap directly. The platform offers detailed explanations of available immigration pathways, structured consultation options, and educational resources developed by the firm’s team of immigration specialists. Rather than presenting a services catalogue, the site walks users through the considerations relevant to their specific situation, whether they hold an Employment Pass, S Pass, or are planning for their family’s long-term residency in Singapore.

“We built this platform because we saw how overwhelming and confusing the immigration process can be for people who genuinely want to build their lives here,” said a spokesperson for Meridian Singapore Immigration. “Our goal is to be the trusted partner that walks them through every step with clarity and integrity.”

Singapore’s continued attractiveness as a regional hub for multinational corporations, financial institutions, and technology firms means the pipeline of foreigners seeking long-term residency options remains substantial. At the same time, the ICA’s PR application framework has grown more nuanced, with factors such as economic contributions, family ties, and community integration weighed during assessment. Applicants who proceed without a clear understanding of these criteria often submit applications that are either premature or structurally incomplete.

Meridian’s approach centres on preparation and transparency, helping applicants understand where they stand before they apply and what supporting documentation strengthens their case.

Meridian Singapore Immigration Pte. Ltd. is a professional immigration consultancy dedicated to guiding individuals and families through Singapore’s immigration process. Specialising in Permanent Residency (PR) applications, residency pathways, and compliance support, Meridian offers clear, structured solutions tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. Founded on the values of Guidance, Integrity, and Success, Meridian is committed to making immigration simple, transparent, and accessible for everyone. For more information, visit meridianimmigration.sg or contact info@meridianimmigration.sg / +65 8873 1113.

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SOURCE Meridian Singapore Immigration Pte. Ltd.

Technology

Socomec, Daitron team up to meet Japan’s growing power demands

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

TOKYO, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Socomec, a century-old electrical group specialising in mission-critical energy, and Japan’s Daitron, an electronics components distributor, have signed a partnership to deliver power conversion solutions and service backup power and electrical-switching systems across Japan.

The deal combines Socomec’s equipment with Daitron’s on-the-ground engineering team, which has more than 74 years of experience in the Japanese market. The two companies will handle everything from project delivery to ongoing maintenance and spare parts.

The partnership covers three product areas: uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), which keep facilities running during outages; power conversion systems, which ensure the availability and continuity of high-quality energy; and static transfer switches, which automatically reroute power loads between sources without interruption.

Beyond equipment sales, the agreement includes training, spare parts, long-term service contracts and a full range of expert services covering prevention, measurement and analysis, consultancy, deployment and optimisation. Socomec will provide product and technical training to Daitron’s team, while Daitron handles installation, servicing and day-to-day client support in Japan.

The target market spans data centres, semiconductor plants, industrial facilities, hospitals and green buildings, all areas where even brief power interruptions can prove costly. Data center demand in particular is surging, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, with colocation and enterprise facilities among the primary targets.

“Daitron knows the Japanese market inside and out. They have the people, the relationships, and the hands-on experience, and we bring the technology to match,” said Socomec Asia-Pacific CEO O’Niel Dissanayake. “It’s a natural fit, and together we can offer something neither company could deliver alone.”

“Japan’s data centres, chip factories and industrial plants all require power systems they can count on,” said Masaharu Kato, corporate officer of Daitron. “Socomec’s technology is exactly what these customers need, and our job is to make sure it’s installed, maintained and supported properly. That’s what we do best.”

The partnership comes as Japan faces a step change in power demand. Electricity consumption is expected to grow 5.3% over the next decade, driven by data centres and semiconductor factories, according to the country’s grid operator. Industrial energy demand alone is forecast to rise 18.3% over the same period.

That growth is creating strong demand for reliable power infrastructure. Data centres, for example, run around the clock and cannot afford downtime, making backup power and efficient energy management essential. Socomec’s systems are designed to reduce power consumption without sacrificing reliability, a balance that is becoming increasingly important as operators look to manage both costs and environmental commitments.

Both companies say project planning and bids are already underway, with a long-term goal of expanding the partnership’s reach across Japan as demand grows.

About Daitron

Daitron Co., Ltd. is a Japanese engineering and trading company founded in 1952 and headquartered in Osaka. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 7609), Daitron sells and manufactures electronic components, semiconductor processing equipment and power supply systems. The company has more than seven decades of experience serving Japan’s electronics and manufacturing industries.

SOCOMEC: When energy matters

Founded in 1922, SOCOMEC is an independent industrial group of more than 4,800 experts spread across the world in 30 subsidiaries. Our vocation: design, manufacture and sale of electrical equipment, with a strong expertize in critical power applications. In 2025, SOCOMEC achieved a turnover of 997 million euros (not yet audited).

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SOURCE Socomec

Technology

Multi-Destination Travel Surges Across Asia-Pacific This Labour Day, Trip.com Group Data Shows

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Multi-city travel across Asia-Pacific grew 35% year-on-yearMulti-city travel outpaces single-destination growth by more than 2xSoutheast Asia sees strong double-digit growth, with Thailand up to 52% YoY

SINGAPORE, April 29, 2026 /CNW/ — Multi-city travel across Asia-Pacific grew 35% year-on-year this Labour Day period, according to data from Trip.com Group. Several Asia-Pacific markets including Japan, South Korea, parts of Southeast Asia and Mainland China celebrate Labour Day, driving strong cross-border and domestic travel flows across the region.

Over 30% of international trips now span multiple destinations, highlighting a continued shift towards more complex, itinerary-led travel. This shift reflects a growing preference to maximise time and value with multiple destinations within a single trip rather than a single location.

Multi-destination trips become a defining travel pattern

While single-destination travel continues to account for most bookings, growth is increasingly driven by more complex itineraries. Multi-destination bookings are growing at more than twice the pace of single-destination travel, reflecting stronger demand for flexibility and deeper exploration.

Travellers are increasingly structuring trips across multiple cities to maximise both time and value, with popular combinations including:

Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto (Japan)Seoul – Busan (South Korea)Bangkok – Phuket (Thailand)

These itineraries reflect a growing preference for multi-stop journeys that blend urban experiences with leisure destinations.

Southeast Asia sees fast growth in multi-destination travel

Across Southeast Asia, demand for multi-destination travel is rising steadily, with strong growth across key markets of Thailand: 52%, Malaysia: 40%, and Singapore: 17%, according to Trip.com Group data.

Top outbound destinations across Southeast Asian markets include Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), South Korea (Seoul), China (Shanghai, Beijing), Thailand (Bangkok), Indonesia (Bali).

In other parts of Asia such as Hong Kong SAR, multi-destination travel also grew by over 50% year-on-year, highlighting growing preference for more complex itineraries over traditional single-destination trips, particularly in well-connected urban markets.

In Mainland China, domestic travel remains a strong base, while overseas journeys are increasingly shaped by multi-destination itineraries, with over 40% of outbound trips spanning multiple destinations and continuing to grow.

This suggests that travellers in this region are increasingly combining multiple cities within a single trip, supported by strong regional connectivity.

Japan’s domestic travel momentum on the rise

Japan is also seeing shifts in domestic travel behaviour, even as outbound demand continues to grow.

In Japan, domestic travel is growing rapidly, indicating rising interest in travelling within the country, accounting for one-quarter of all flight bookings, and to cities such as Tokyo, Sapporo and Okinawa.

Intra-Asia travel dominates Labour Day demand

The Labour Day holiday period continues to be driven by regional travel within Asia-Pacific, with travellers favouring destinations that offer ease of access, diverse experiences, and flexible itineraries.

The Group’s data highlights the continued strength of short-haul travel, supported by strong connectivity and shorter flight durations.

More broadly, the way people travel across Asia-Pacific is evolving. Travellers taking a more deliberate approach to how they plan their trips. While cross-border journeys are increasingly shaped by multi-city itineraries, domestic travel remains a strong and steady part of the landscape. Together, these patterns point to a more flexible and value-conscious mindset, as travellers look to make the most of both time and budget.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.