New CTP chief King expected to ‘hit the ground running’ on tobacco control

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed epidemiologist Brian King as director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) – an appointment that has not gone down well among advocates of tobacco alternatives.

King comes in from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, where he has held a number of leadership roles, though none directly related to regulatory authority.

He succeeds Mitch Zeller, who retired in April. Interim director Michele Mital will revert to the position of deputy when King assumes his position on 3rd July.