diaDexus, Inc. announced leadership changes designed to expedite execution of the company's diversification and expansion plans to drive and support its future growth. Brian Ward, Ph.D., diaDexus' current chief executive officer and a director on the board of directors, will retire from the company by the end of 2014, and Alexander Johnson will join on August 4, 2014 as president. To ensure an orderly transition with continued operational focus and execution, Lori Rafield, Ph.D., the current chairman of the board, will take the additional role of interim executive chair effective immediately.

Mr. Johnson was most recently as director of Mergers and Acquisitions based in the company's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.