National Marrow Donor Program(R) Hires New Officers

MINNEAPOLIS, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) announced today the hire of Claudio Garcia as chief marketing and recruitment officer, and Michael Jones as chief information officer, effective immediately. Both positions are new to the organization and report directly to Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D.

The NMDP connects patients, doctors, donors and researchers to the resources necessary to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and other life-threatening diseases which can be cured by a marrow or cord blood transplant.

The new positions were created to lead expanded NMDP activities to meet the growing global need for marrow and cord blood transplants. On any given day more than 6,000 people search the NMDP Registry for a donor.

Garcia will be responsible for overseeing all corporate marketing and public engagement activities. The NMDP manages a Registry of over 6 million volunteers who are willing to donate to any patient in need.

"Claudio brings extensive cross-cultural experience in marketing and product development having worked in marketing around the world," said Chell. "His energy and enthusiasm for engaging customers who are passionate and committed to an organization will serve our patients, donors and physicians well."

Before joining the NMDP, Garcia served as the chief marketing officer of Pure Fishing LLC, North America's largest manufacturer of branded sport fishing products. Prior to that, he held several senior marketing management positions with Nestle, Diageo, and The Pillsbury Company.

"I look forward to applying my more than 20 years of marketing and general management experience to a mission that will impact a greater cause," said Garcia.

During Garcia's career, he has lived and worked in Europe, the Far East, and Latin America. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and sociology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.

Jones will lead the NMDP's 130-person Information Technology Department, which develops and supports the organization's unique business and technology needs. NMDP information systems link searching patients and their clinicians to an international network of more than 30 registries and 40 cord blood banks around the world.

"Michael's deep experience in information systems will ensure that our technology continues to meet the needs of the enterprise and our employees," said Chell. "I also look forward to the many contributions that he will make to our entire organization as a member of the senior management team."

Jones most recently served as the chief technology officer of Express Scripts, one of the largest pharmacy benefit companies in North America headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Prior to Express Scripts, he served as the chief information officer of Cigna Behavioral Healthcare, a behavioral care benefit management firm based in Eden Prairie, Minn. Jones worked as a consultant for several years at Deloitte Consulting before starting his corporate career.

"I am extremely excited to be joining an organization where everyday the value that we deliver clearly links to our mission - Creating Connections, Saving Lives," said Jones. "I am eager to contribute to the NMDP's innovative efforts in improving the accessibility and quality of services to those who need cellular transplant therapies."

Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, and an MBA from the University of Texas, Austin. He serves on various advisory committees including Minneapolis-based Urban Ventures, which focuses on enhancing the opportunities and the wealth creation capacities of urban communities.

About the National Marrow Donor Program

The NMDP facilitates unrelated marrow and blood cell transplants as a single point of access for a long-standing collaborative network of national and international leading medical facilities in marrow and cord blood transplantation. The NMDP connects patients, doctors, donors and researchers to the resources they need to help more people live longer and healthier lives. For more information call 1 (800) MARROW-2 or visit http://www.marrow.org/. Join online at marrow.org/join.