Health sciences and photonics company PerkinElmer Inc. of Waltham, Mass., announced that Robert F. Friel, currently company president and COO, has been elected CEO by PerkinElmer's board of directors, effective Feb. 1. He will also retain the title of president. Gregory L. Summe will continue as executive chairman of the board through the annual shareholders meeting in April 2009, the company said. Friel joined PerkinElmer in 1999 as CFO and was appointed vice chairman and president of its Life and Analytical Sciences business in 2006. He was named president and COO in 2007.