Wilmington-headquartered Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC (PPD) announced the appointment of Christopher Scully as executive vice president and chief financial officer, according to a news release Friday.

Scully brings more than 25 years of experience and extensive financial and commercial expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, PPD officials said in the release. He will begin his new role May 15 and will be based at the company's headquarters in Wilmington.

“Chris has a broad depth of knowledge and experience in the life sciences industry that comes from serving in senior financial and general manager roles with large pharma,” David Simmons, PPD’s chairman and CEO, said in the release. “His unique blend of experience will complement and support our focus on delivering our mission, as well as superior financial results. I am confident Chris is well-suited to PPD’s culture as a company committed to integrity, financial discipline and sustainable growth.”

PPD is a global contract research organization providing integrated drug development, laboratory and lifecycle management services.

Scully most recently served at Pfizer Inc. as chief commercial officer for the Pfizer essential health business unit. In that role, he led efforts to successfully transform the $26 billion unit into a sustainably growing business with industry-leading franchises in multiple durable and growing market segments, officials said.

During his 21 years with Pfizer, he helped grow and transform several multibillion-dollar businesses through a variety of senior roles, including: regional president, established products Europe; vice president of finance/CFO, established products business unit; and vice president of finance, both for Japan and Asia and then, for Pfizer’s worldwide pharmaceutical business, according to the release.

Scully earned an MBA with a concentration in finance and international business from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan College.