By Allan Maurer
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC–Leslie Alexandre says her mode of operation has always been the same: “Before I hit the pause button, I have to find it,” she tells TechJournal South. She found the pause button Monday, informing the NC Biotech Center that she is stepping down as CEO as of March 31.
Alexandre led the Biotech Center during a period in which the state climbed to the third ranked in the nation as a biotech hub. She presided over development of the “Jobs Across North Carolina” strategic plan submitted to Gov. Mike Easley in 2004 and considers it one of her two most important accomplishments.
“It’s having such a profound impact on the state, engaged so many of our partners, and its results have been impressive given it’s only been two or three years,” she says.
An accomplishment she regards as equally important is establishing satellite offices of the Biotech Center in Winston-Salem, Greenville, Wilmington, Asheville and Charlotte. “That’s helped us be more attentive to the needs of each community and link resources across the state.”
One of the first things she asked herself when she accepted the job, Alexandre says, “was how could I follow Charles Hamner and all the amazing things he did here. It’s one thing if you come in and things are a mess. Anything you do is likely to make them better. But as Monica Doss (CEO of the NC Council for Entrepreneurial Development) said, ‘I came to a very good organization and worked to make it great.’ I think we became greater by putting offices in five regional areas.”
The Center wants to link the scientists and researchers in the state, she says. “In the East we get natural products from the sea. In the West, from the natural diversity of the Appalachian Trail. How can they work together?”
Alexandre says the Center has asked the state to expand its support so that it can create Centers of Innovation around North Carolina to build those types of linkages. “We want to tie the state’s resources together and focus on commercialization, both creating companies and attracting them.”
Biotechnology is an internationally competitive arena, but North Carolina’s rate of growth in biotech is still likely to outpace that in other areas,” Alexandre believes. “We may not have the same number of companies, but that was never my goal. My goal was to make the state as great as it can be.
“Look at what’s happening. Merck hasn’t even started yet (in Durham) but has announced expansion plans. Novartis hasn’t put any steel in the ground and it’s expanding. Companies come here and are happy with the workforce and environment.
“The number of active real projects being considered in North Carolina right now is stunning. We won’t get them all, but we will get our share.”
Alexandre says many opportunities have come her way since taking the top job at the Center, but she really hasn’t had time to consider them. “I want to take some time and regroup. “I love North Carolina and I’d like to stay here, but I’m not ruling out a move.”
She’s not sure she wants to remain in biotech per se. “My background, broadly, is in health care. I’ve done so many things a lot of different offers come my way. I’m not even sure where to steer the recruiters. I’d like to take a couple of months rather than jump to something else.”
Allan Maurer can be reached at: allan@techjournalsouth.com
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