Richard F. Syron Elected to Genzyme's Board of Directors

Genzyme Corp. has announced the election of Richard F. Syron to the company's board of directors. Mr. Syron, 62, is chairman and chief executive officer of Freddie Mac.

"I am pleased to welcome Dick Syron to our board of directors," said Henri A. Termeer, chairman and chief executive officer of Genzyme Corp.

"Dick brings to our board exceptionally strong financial expertise, and more than 30 years of leadership in economic policy and banking."

"His perspective and experience, which span both industry and government, will be vitally important as Genzyme continues to grow."

Prior to joining Freddie Mac in 2003, Mr. Syron was chairman of the board of Thermo Electron Corporation. He also held the positions of CEO and president during his tenure.

Before he joined Thermo Electron, Mr. Syron was chairman and chief executive officer of the American Stock Exchange for five years.

Mr. Syron has served as president of both the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and he played a major role in restructuring New England's banking system following the crises of the early 1990s.

He served as deputy assistant secretary of the United States Treasury, principal assistant to Federal Reserve Chairman Paul A. Volcker, and has held several economic, research, policy and managerial positions in state and national government.

Mr. Syron earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Boston College and his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from Tufts University. 

He serves on the board of directors of the Freddie Mac Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of children.

Mr. Syron's election fills the position previously held by Constantine E. Anagnostopoulos, who joined Genzyme's board of directors in 1986 and retired last year.