Zafgen Names Hatfield CEO, Former Chief Exec Hughes Shifts to CSO

Zafgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZFGN]]) has named Jeffrey Hatfield CEO of the Boston-based drug developer. Thomas Hughes, who has been Zafgen’s CEO since 2008, will continue as president and take on the newly created position of chief scientific officer. Both Hatfield and Hughes will serve on the company’s board of directors. Hatfield was most recently CEO of Vitae Pharmaceuticals. He has also worked in various roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]). Zafgen’s lead drug candidate is in Phase 2 testing as a weight loss drug for diabetics.

Author: Frank Vinluan

Xconomy Editor Frank Vinluan is a business journalist with experience covering technology and life sciences. Based in Raleigh, he was a staff writer at the Triangle Business Journal covering technology, biotechnology and energy before joining MedCityNews.com as North Carolina bureau chief. Prior to moving to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 2007 he held business reporting positions at The Des Moines Register and The Seattle Times.