FHI Clinical recently acquired the clinical trials business of Triclinium Clinical Development Proprietary Limited (TCD), a full-service, South Africa-based CRO now referred to as FHI Clinical SA. Merging enables us to further expand our share of the infectious disease market and become the dominant service provider in sub-Saharan Africa — a very competitive market with significant growth opportunity.
It’s an exciting time for our company, and we wanted our new FHI Clinical SA colleagues to share in the celebration!
Members of our executive team, including Ted FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer and President; Mercy Chumo, Manager, Human Resources; Rob King, Chief Operating Officer; and Ghiorghis Belai, Vice President, Global Strategy, went to South Africa to meet the new employees.
New FHI Clinical SA employees (above) include Cornelia van Huyssteen, Senior Quality Assurance Associate; Linda Duursema, Director, Quality Assurance; Precious Kunene and Jaco Koegelenberg, Quality Management Systems and Standards.
The company hosted two “Meet the Team” receptions — one in the office, the other at the Nitidia Wine Farm in Cape Town. Both events gave the South Africa-based employees the chance to meet some of their new colleagues and leadership team while being treated to some celebratory snacks and company merchandise.
Reception attendees enjoyed some celebratory treats!
Christoph Pickard, Senior Clinical Project Manager shows off his new company merchandise.
Rob King understands the value that good employees bring to an organization, and said, “You have to value your greatest asset, and our greatest asset is our people. It’s important that we sit down with each and every person so that they know that they’re valued, and we can recognize the value that they bring.”
Rob King, COO, and Leonard Herbst , Global Head, Project Management, get ready to open their gift boxes.
Ghiorghis Belai, Vice President, Global Strategy, said a few words along with Linda Duursema, Director, Quality Assurance, and Cornelia van Huyssteen, Senior Quality Assurance Associate.
Ted FitzGerald enjoyed getting to know the new additions. “The visit helped me make a really personal connection. I have a better understanding of who the employees are, and what they do, and I’ve learned a few personal things about them. The human connection – that’s really going to help become a connected organization. We look forward to encouraging more of that as we bring the two organizations together.”
Madelief Roux, Business Operations Associate, welcomes reception attendees.
The receptions were well received by all attendees. Abraham Van Wyk, Managing Director at FHI Clinical SA, said, “This has been on the horizon for several years, and it’s amazing for everyone — not just to see our South African colleagues but also to meet our new American colleagues and learn more about where they’ve worked before. We realized we have many things in common and that our paths have crossed many times. It’s been so great to feel a part of something new and that we are now a united organization!”
Phuti Gideon Kgopa, Clinical Project Manager, and Bazela Khoza, Clinical Research Associate, are welcomed by Ted FitzGerald, President and CEO of FHI Clinical.
FHI Clinical and FHI Clinical SA now employ approximately 450 people, with about 285 of these employees based in East and West Africa.
