US medtech business MiniMed has hired Sheila Denton as its next general counsel, replacing Courtney Nelson Wills who is leaving the company.
Denton was most recently GC at US biopharma business Incyte. She brings more than two decades of in-house pharmaceutical and biotech experience to the role.
Northridge, California-based MiniMed is a diabetes technology business, creating devices to deliver insulin more effectively. It was previously part of medtech giant Medtronic, before being spun-off as an independent company back in March.
Que Dallara, CEO at MiniMed, said: “Sheila brings deep board experience, strong regulatory and transactional judgement, and a proven ability to build and lead high-performing global teams. Her experience advising companies through periods of growth and transformation will make her a strong partner to our executive team and board as we continue to scale MiniMed as an independent public company.”
Denton spent two and a half years at Incyte, having previously worked at Boehringer Ingelheim for almost two decades, including five years as GC. She originally joined as executive director for litigation and government investigations from New England-based firm Pullman & Comley, where she was a partner.
She said: “MiniMed has a clear mission to make every day a better day for people with diabetes, and I look forward to joining my MiniMed colleagues across the world as we build on the company’s strong foundation and pursue the opportunities ahead.”
Nelson Wills, meanwhile, became GC at MiniMed following its separation from Medtronic in March. She was previously chief corporate governance and securities counsel at Medtronic, among other roles.
She originally joined Medtronic in 2009 from IP specialist Fish & Richardson, where she spent six years as a patent attorney. She started her career clerking in the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Denton’s previous company, Incyte, announced late last year that it was lining up Goodwin Procter partner Richard Hoffman to replace her.
In other recent in-house healthcare-related moves, in July US biotech business Biogen hired Michael Parini as chief legal officer from Spur Therapeutics, replacing Susan Alexander who left the company in May.
Also in May, US healthcare provider HealthPartners hired Sarah Karlgaard as CLO, replacing GC Nancy Evert, who retired earlier in the year.
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