Illumina Names Thaysen CEO After deSouza’s Abrupt Departure (2)

Illumina Inc. named Agilent Technologies Inc.’s Jacob Thaysen as its next chief executive officer after former CEO Francis deSouza abruptly left the DNA-sequencing giant amid an investor proxy fight and regulatory opposition to a major acquisition.

Thaysen, 48, will become CEO as of Sept. 25, San Diego-based Illumina said Tuesday in a statement. Thaysen will step into the position after leading Agilent’s analytical instrument portfolio, informatics and cell analysis franchise. In the last five years running that company’s largest unit, its revenue and operating profit grew, with an operating margin of approximately 30%, and reached more than 50,000 ...