Christensen is currently country manager of the diagnostics division of Abbott Norway and will start in his new role on 1 January 2007
Current managing director and co-founder Anders Loenneborg will take up the position of scientific director.
Christensen comes to DiaGenic with a strong background in international diagnostics development, marketing and strategy as well as an understanding of the overall diagnostics pathway through previous research and clinical roles.
This combination of experience perfectly matches DiaGenic's needs - the company recently presented breakthrough data on its gene expression signature test for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is on track to have validated assay designs for both AD and breast cancer ready for large scale clinical trials by the end of the year.
Christensen commented: "I have followed DiaGenic's progress with great interest and now see the opportunity to help develop DiaGenic into an important and significant player internationally in the molecular diagnostics field.
"My experience runs from research, through clinical to commercialisation and it is with this broad knowledge base I will develop the company further".
DiaGenic chairman Hakon Saeteroy also welcomed the appointment: "DiaGenic is now moving into an exciting phase of the company's development with our first two assays approaching clinical trials.
"Erik Christensen has the experience and knowledge needed to ensure we exploit this potential successfully, and we have also been impressed with the way his vision for the DiaGenic matches ours - namely to become a leading player in the new molecular diagnostics market."
