Decision Resources Hires Growth Strategist

US pharma research firm Decision Resources has followed up its recent cash injection with the appointment of former Thomson Healthcare Executive VP Shahir Kassam-Adams as Chief Strategy Officer, charged with managing its acquisition plans.

While at Thomson, Kassam-Adams managed the company's $250 million clinical decision support businesses and defined and implemented its growth strategy in this marketplace. Prior to joining Thomson in 2003 he held professional and management positions at Reed Elsevier, Harcourt, and CSX Corporation.

Decision Resources' plans for expansion have been accelerated by a recent cash injection from new majority owner Providence Equity (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6820.htm ). Peter Hoenigsberg, CEO of Decision Resources, explained: 'Bringing someone with Shahir's experience and caliber is indicative of our aggressive growth strategy. He will be instrumental in achieving our ambitious growth plans utilising Providence's abundant capital, his sector expertise and our own talented pool of employees.'

Hoenigsberg and Kassam-Adams previously worked together at Harcourt, where Kassam-Adams was the Executive VP for Strategic Development for the Scientific, Technical, and Medical Group.

The Decision Resources group comprises three business units: HealthLeaders-InterStudy which provides managed care industry intelligence; Millennium Research Group an authority on medical device market intelligence; and Decision Resources which focuses on pharmaceutical and health research. Web sites are at www.mrg.net , www.healthleaders-interstudy.com and www.decisionresources.com .