June 28, 2007

SAER AND O’NEILL NAMED PACKARD CENTER BOARD CO-CHAIRS

Ushering in an era of commanding fiscal and strategic know-how, the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins announces the appointment of two board of governors’ co-chairs: John K. Saer, Jr., a member of private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), New York office, and Thomas P. O’Neill, president of the Financial Institutions division of life insurance giant AEGON USA, Baltimore office.

Saer is active in KKR’s industrial investments and has been involved in the firm’s chemical, technology and hospitality areas as well. Prior to joining KKR, he was chief financial officer of KSL Recreation Corporation, a KKR portfolio company.

A 25-year financial services industry veteran, O’Neill joined AEGON in 2001 as vice president; he was responsible for the distribution of all Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group’s investment, pension and insurance products through major U.S. financial institutions. A year later he became presid ent of AEGON Financial Services Group. One of the nation’s 10 largest insurance groups of its kind, AEGON leverages investment expertise and strengthens distribution relationships with large financial institutions.

With a family member living with ALS, both men support a collaborative approach to finding a cure—the Packard Center’s hallmark.

“This is a critical moment in the Center’s history,” says its director, Jeffrey Rothstein. “These two executives—well respected in their complementary fields—are careful listeners and strategic thinkers. They bring skills that will propel our organization to the next level.”

The Packard Center is a collaboration of scientists worldwide, working aggressively to develop new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a progressive motor neuron disorder that causes complete paralysis and loss of function. The Center is the only institution of its kind dedicated solely to research on the disease. Its mission is to translate laboratory discoveries to the clinic as quickly as possible.

For more information, call 410-516-6248 or visit www.alscenter.org.

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