WorldOne Hires Mergemarket Co-founder as COO

In New York, pharma data collection specialist WorldOne has appointed Mergemarket co-founder Richard Hall as Chief Operating Officer, focused on managing and expanding the firm's operations.

Founded in 2000, WorldOne offers access to a panel of 500,000 physicians and 200,000 other healthcare professionals across more than 80 countries. Earlier this month, the firm secured a $25m investment, which it plans to use to accelerate global expansion and fund development of new business lines.

Hall was previously COO of financial information company Mergemarket, which he co-founded in 2000, and sold to FT-owner Pearson Group for $192m in 2006. Following the acquisition, Hall continued in his role as MD for the firm's dealReporter and Debtwire brands, until his promotion to the role of COO.

Before Mergemarket, Hall spent several years as an M&A practitioner, having worked in the investment banking group at Lazard in both London and New York.

WorldOne CEO Peter Kirk says Hall is 'an experienced COO who possesses a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience within a dynamic and fast-growing business environment', and adds: 'We are honored to have him join our team and look forward to a highly successful future together.'

Web site: www.worldone.com .