Complete Genomics today announced the expansion of its commercial team with the addition of Mark J. Sutherland as senior vice president of business development. Sutherland will be responsible for managing the company’s business development, marketing and customer support teams.

Sutherland brings 25 years of life sciences business development, sales and marketing experience to Complete Genomics. He comes to Complete Genomics from GenVault Corp., where he also served as senior vice president of business development. Before GenVault, he was vice president, strategic alliances, for the Discovery Systems business unit of GE Healthcare.

As Vice President, Genomics, for Amersham Biosciences, he led a $160 million genomics business unit focused on DNA sequencing, genotyping and gene expression. Before joining Amersham, Sutherland held roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing management at Molecular Dynamics and Applied Biosystems. He holds a bachelor of science with honors in chemistry from Stanford University.

“Mark’s deep experience and strong relationships in the life sciences arena will be a very positive asset for us,” said Dr. Clifford Reid, chairman, president and CEO of Complete Genomics. “Among his highest priorities will be working more closely with large pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health.”

Complete Genomics plans to expand its commercial operations aggressively in 2010 by funding several new sales and marketing positions and accelerating its previously announced plans to open satellite genome sequencing service centers around the world. “We have received significant interest from a number of groups that would be interested in seeing Complete Genomics establish a satellite genome center in their country, and Mark will be prioritizing those opportunities and taking them forward,” said Dr. Reid.

Sutherland added, “This is the year that Complete Genomics transitions from a research and development company to a customer-focused company with significant revenues. We welcome all inquiries from groups that want to experience the benefits of large-scale complete human genome sequencing as a service without the complexity and costs traditionally associated with instrument ownership.”