Agilent Promotes Nitin Sood to General Manager of Automation Solutions

Under Nitin's direction, the Automation Solutions business will continue to provide one of the biggest growth opportunities for Agilent's life sciences business, said Fred Strohmeier, vice president and general manager, Liquid Phase Analysis Division. I am confident that Nitin's proven leadership skills and technical expertise will serve our existing customers well and optimize our portfolio with innovative solutions for the automation market.

Sood previously served as general manager of Agilent's Electrophoresis Business (capillary electrophoresis and microfluidics) in Waldbronn, Germany. He will relocate to Santa Clara, Calif., to assume his new role. During the past 18 months, Sood strengthened the footprint of this emerging business through substantial growth and improved profitability. This includes the recent successful launch of a new capillary electrophoresis platform, targeting life science applications in biopharma. Sood holds master's degrees in computer science and molecular biology.

Rob Nail, previous general manager of Agilent's automation business, has decided to leave Agilent to pursue other opportunities but will assist with the transition over the next several months. Nail successfully led the integration of what was formerly Velocity11, acquired by Agilent in December 2007.

I would like to personally thank Rob for his great leadership, support and, in particular, for his personal engagement with his team during the integration with Agilent, said Strohmeier.