Biotech company Oxford GlycoSciences has appointed Dr David Ebsworth as chief executive to replace Michael Kranda, who has decided to return to the US.

Mr Kranda has been commuting from Seattle to the firm's base in Milton Park, near Abingdon, for four years. He did not want to move his family over here because his son is suffering from a rare illness and needs to be in the US for treatment.

Dr Ebsworth, 47, was previously head of the worldwide pharmaceutical business group of pharmaceutical giant Bayer, with sales of £5bn and 20,000 employees.

He said: "OGS's proteomics technologies are world-renowned and have the potential to position the company at the centre of the next phase of drug discovery and development."