Anne Wein, a former marketing executive with the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in Research Triangle Park, is the new executive director of Southeast BIO.

Wein left her position as operations and program manager at Virginia Piedmont Technology Council in Charlottesville VA to take the new job.

“I have always been a supporter of SEBIO, and I am looking forward to growing the organization,” Wein told Local Tech Wire. “We are looking to bring business people and organizations involved in biotech so they can work together better and to strengthen the region.”

SEBIO is a public-private partnership focused on growing the biotech industry across the southeast. It was formed in 1999 and puts on a yearly investors conference.

“Anne is a very capable leader with strong experience supporting entrepreneurial companies – first at CED, then at VPTC and now with SEBIO,” Monica Doss, president of the CED, told Local Tech Wire. “She was a vital asset to CED during her time here. I have no doubt that she will leverage her experience and knowledge of the innovation economy to be an effective executive director for SEBIO. With Anne on board at SEBIO, we look forward to working more closely with SEBIO.”

SEBIO plans to increase the size of its executive board to more than 30 from the current 17, Wein added. The organization has member companies and organizations from across the Southeast and is looking to expand its footprint to Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, she added.

“The Southeast is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and one that investors should be interested in,” Wein said.

Wein is SEBIO’s first executive director. She had worked with the Piedmont Virginia group for the past three years.

At the CED, Wein was marketing and public relations coordinator. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a degree in journalism.

Wein is the daughter of Raleigh attorney Fred Hutchinson. Her husband, Scott, is completing his residence in pediatric surgery at the University of Virginia medical school.

“This is an important step forward in the growth of Southeast BIO,” said Will Brooke, chairman of SEBIO, in a statement. “Anne’s background and experience will be invaluable as SEBIO broadens its efforts to promote entrepreneurship and growth in the biotech industry throughout our Southeast region.”

SEBIO was known initially as the Southeast Life Sciences Association.

One of Wein’s primary responsibilities will be coordinated SEBIO’s seventh annual Investor Forum, which is scheduled for Dec. 1-2 in Charleston, SC. The 2006 event is set for Atlanta.

Wein will be based in Virginia.

While working for the Virginia Piedmont council, she sought to have Virginia included in SEBIO.

At the CED, Wein was marketing and public relations coordinator. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a degree in journalism.

SEBIO: www.sebio.org