In brief: Circadian, Metabolic, Mesoblast

After 21 years as Circadian's (ASX:CIR) founding chairman Sir Peter Derham retired at the conclusion of the company's AGM yesterday. Circadian managing director Leon Serry said that Sir Peter was stepping down because he's now 80 years of age. Serry said that the new chairperson is likely to be elected at the next board meeting scheduled in two weeks time, unless a decision is made sooner. Dominique Fisher and Donald Clarke were also elected as Circadian directors at the AGM.

Metabolic (ASX:MBP) has appointed Robyn Baker as non-executive director effective from October 31. She is a Melbourne-based partner of law firm Clayton Utz and a member of the BioMelbourne Network Advisory Committee and the Australian Research Council's College of Experts.

Prof Peter Ghosh and US-based Prof Joseph Lane have been appointed to Mesoblast's (ASX:MSB) scientific advisory board. Ghosh has expertise in the cartilage field and Lane has spinal disease expertise.