La Jolla, Calif.--April 24, 2006--Senomyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNMX), a leading company focused on using proprietary taste receptor-based assays to discover novel flavor ingredients for the packaged food and beverage industry, announced today that Sharon Wicker has been appointed to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Commercial Development and Chief Strategy Officer. Ms. Wicker has more than twenty years of strategic marketing experience in the food industry, most recently serving as the President, Flavor Business Unit, at A.M. Todd Company.
"Senomyx's early focus had been on advancing our flavor discovery and development programs while expanding our collaborations to include six of the world's leading packaged food and beverage companies," said Kent Snyder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We are now at the point when our activities are increasingly focused on the commercialization of our flavor ingredients. Sharon Wicker's experience as a food industry innovator, with proven product launch experience and a track record of executing successful commercial strategies, makes her the ideal individual to head these expanded efforts."
Wicker has an extensive background in new product development as well as beverage and food product brand marketing. She has served as Vice President, Meals Division and Vice President, New Business Strategy at Heinz North America. During her tenure at ConAgra Grocery Products she held Vice President positions in the Meals Business Unit, the Snacks Business Unit, and the Hunt's Food Business Unit. Her prior experience includes managerial positions at General Mills in the Betty Crocker and Foodservice Division, as well as functioning as Brand Manager for the Cheerios Brand. She received an MBA from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition from Colorado State University.
"Sharon will be working with our collaborators, third party consultants, our business development team, and discovery and development group to facilitate the incorporation of our new flavor ingredients into our partners' food and beverage products. She will also be exploring new strategic opportunities for the Company," Snyder noted.
"Senomyx has created a new paradigm in food flavoring with its proprietary approach to the discovery of novel flavors, flavor enhancers, and taste modulators," Wicker commented. "It will be exciting to help drive the commercialization of new flavor ingredients with the goal of enabling the Company's collaborators to create competitive advantages for their products."