Aeterna Zentaris Announces Board of Directors Leadership Change and Election of Directors at Annual Meeting of Shareholders

About this update from Cosciens Biopharma Inc.

[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nQUÉBEC CITY, May 12, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the \"Company\") announces that following its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 9, 2014, its Board of Directors has appointed current President and CEO, David Dodd, as Chairman of the Board, a decision that is in keeping with Aeterna Zentaris' new strategy of transitioning from a research and development into a commercial company. The Board believes that with both roles being assumed by David Dodd, the decision-making process of the leadership will be more efficient, which should also accelerate the attainment of the Company's objective of becoming a commercial entity. In order to ensure that the Board of Directors will continue to act independently from management, Juergen Ernst, former Chairman of the Board and an independent director, will assume the role of Lead Director.\n\nDavid Dodd, President, CEO and Chairman of Aeterna Zentaris stated, \"I would first like to acknowledge and thank Juergen Ernst for his valuable contribution and mentorship over the last few years and we look forward to continue working closely with him and benefit from his vast experience in our industry. I am honoured by the confidence placed in me by our Board, and I am excited to take on this challenge of successfully transforming Aeterna Zentaris into a commercial entity for the benefit of shareholders, patients and our other stakeholders.\"\n\nThe Company also announced the results of the vote on directors held at its annual meeting of shareholders on May 9, 2014.\n\nEach of the director nominees proposed by management for election was elected as director, without a vote by ballot being conducted. The Company received proxies with regard to voting on the seven directors nominated for election as set forth in the table below:\n\n\n\n\nName of Nominee\n\n\nVotes For\n\n\n%\n\n\nVotes Withheld\n\n\n%\n\n\n\nMarcel Aubut\n\n\n2,753,774\n\n\n73.14\n\n\n1,011,519\n\n\n26.86\n\n\n\nDavid A. Dodd \n\n\n2,995,600\n\n\n79.56\n\n\n769,693\n\n\n20.44\n\n\n\nJosé P. Dorais\n\n\n2,786,549\n\n\n74.01\n\n\n978,744\n\n\n25.99\n\n\n\nCarolyn Egbert\n\n\n3,072,567\n\n\n81.60\n\n\n692,726\n\n\n18.40\n\n\n\nJuergen Ernst\n\n\n2,676,649\n\n\n71.09\n\n\n1,088,644\n\n\n28.91\n\n\n\nPierre Lapalme\n\n\n2,784,756\n\n\n73.96\n\n\n980,538\n\n\n26.04\n\n\n...

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