Biotechnology company Amgen has appointed Cynthia Patton as senior vice president and chief compliance officer, effective Oct. 22. She succeeds Anna Richo, who has resigned from the company to join another biopharmaceutical company as general counsel, effective Oct. 31.

Patton joined Amgen in 2005 and most recently served as vice president in the Amgen law department, responsible for commercial legal activities in the U.S. Previously, she served as the lead commercial lawyer for the oncology and inflammation business units.  In her new role, Patton will be responsible for Amgen's worldwide compliance and business ethics organization.

Prior to joining the company, Patton served for seven years as general counsel of a California HMO.