Elan exec to move to rival

Pharmaceutical company Elan today announced the resignation of Nancy Lurker as a non-executive director of the company with effect from May 31.

Ms Lurker is leaving Elan to take up a job as chief marketing officer with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the US.

Ms Lurker has been a director of Elan since May 2005.

"To avoid the possibility of any conflict of interest in the future, both she and Elan agreed it was appropriate for her to step down from the board of Elan," the company said today.