Talecris CEO receives Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 Award

Lawrence D. Stern, chairman and CEO of Talecris Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: TLCR), received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in the health sciences category in the Carolinas at a ceremony last night in Charlotte, N.C. The Ernst & Young awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses.

Stern was one of ten CEOs selected as a winner from among 27 finalists by a panel of independent judges composed of prominent business leaders in North Carolina.

"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of Talecris employees and the patients whose lives are saved and enhanced by the critical-care therapies we discover and produce," said Stern. "This award represents not only my own entrepreneurial vision for the company, but the immense talent, spirit and drive of the Talecris employees who have translated our vision into a reality."  

Stern led the formation of Talecris in 2005 upon acquiring the assets of a division of Bayer Corporation. From these assets, the Talecris leadership team built new systems and processes to sustain the company's long-term growth and success as a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing protein therapies derived from human plasma. In five years' time, the company doubled its revenue, tripled the number of employees, launched new products and expanded its global presence. In 2009, Talecris achieved record sales of $1.53 billion.