Following board fight, Francis deSouza resigns as Illumina CEO

Just two weeks after surviving an activist investor’s attempt to oust him from Illumina’s board, company CEO Francis deSouza has resigned his roles at the sequencing behemoth, Illumina said Sunday.

DeSouza stepped down effectively immediately from the CEO position and from the company’s board. He will remain an adviser through next month. Charles Dadswell, the company’s general counsel, will take on an interim CEO role as the board searches for the company’s next leader.

The news represents a reversal of Illumina’s recent public communications about deSouza, which had emphasized the support he had among the company’s investors. Last week, Illumina appealed the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s order to divest Grail, a cancer diagnostics firm Illumina acquired for $8 billion without clearances from U.S. and European regulators.

STAT+ Exclusive Story

Already have an account? Log in

This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers

Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+.

Already have an account? Log in

Already have an account? Log in

Individual plans

Group plans

Monthly

$39

Totals $468 per year

$39/month Get Started

Totals $468 per year

Starter

$30

for 3 months, then $39/month

$30 for 3 months Get Started

Then $39/month

Annual

$399

Save 15%

$399/year Get Started

Save 15%

11+ Users

Custom

Savings start at 25%!

Request A Quote Request A Quote

Savings start at 25%!

2-10 Users

$300

Annually per user

$300/year Get Started

$300 Annually per user

View All Plans

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe

Log In