Vertex Pharmaceuticals fired Ian Smith, its COO and interim CFO, for unspecified personal behavior that violated the company's code of conduct.
The Boston-based biotech said the termination, effective Jan 23., was unrelated to its financial performance. Instead, it resulted from the findings of an investigation by outside law firm WilmerHale.
Paul Silva, senior vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer, has been appointed interim CFO. The company is conducting a formal search to identify a permanent CFO.
"At Vertex, we are deeply committed to our culture of diversity, inclusion and respect, and we insist that all of our employees, regardless of their seniority, live our values and adhere to our code of conduct," said Jeffrey Leiden, MD, PhD, chairman, president and CEO Vertex.