Oncocyte Corporation (NASDAQ:OCX), a precision diagnostics company with the mission to improve patient outcomes by providing personalized insights that inform critical decisions throughout the patient care journey, today announced that Ronnie Andrews will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company's board of directors effective December 1, 2022. In order to ensure a smooth transition effective as of December 2, 2022, Joshua Riggs will serve as interim Chief Executive Officer until such time as a new CEO has been identified and retained and Mr. Andrews will continue to act a consultant until February 28, 2023.
Mr. Riggs, who has been Oncocyte's General Manager, Transplant since July 2022 and was the Company's Senior Director Business Development from August 2020 until September 2022, is a seasoned business development strategist with significant experience working with early and growth-stage molecular diagnostics companies. From January 2016 to July 2020, he was a principal at Bethesda Group, LLC, a boutique consulting group focused on helping small and mid-stage diagnostic companies and investment groups move emerging diagnostic content and platforms to market.
"I am extremely proud of the work we have done during my three plus years at Oncocyte," Mr. Andrews said. "We took a company from a single product research shop to a molecular diagnostics company with a solid portfolio of high-value tests that have already impacted patients' lives. I am grateful for the incredible support and tremendous efforts of our employee base, without which Oncocyte would not be poised to receive reimbursement and launch major products over the next 12 months."
"On behalf of the Board, I want to wish Ronnie all the best in his future endeavors and to thank him for his many contributions to Oncocyte, including his leadership and mentorship of Josh," said Andy Arno, Chairman of the Board. "The Board is excited that Josh, one of Ronnie's protégées, will assume the role as the Company's interim CEO. Josh's background and experience makes him well positioned to lead the Company. The Board intends to begin a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer shortly, and expects that Josh will be a candidate."
"I, too, would like to thank Ronnie for his vision and ability to execute on our lead products, including DetermaIO and VitaGraft, which has positioned us well as we turn to the future," commented Josh Riggs. "I am honored to work with the Board and to lead the incredibly talented team at Oncocyte as we embark upon the commercialization efforts for our key products, achieve important reimbursement milestones, execute our plan to reduce our cash burn and explore previously announced strategic alternatives to strengthen our balance sheet."