A veteran in-house health care attorney is taking a key role in trying to help Somerville, Massachusetts-based gene therapy company Bluebird Bio bounce back from difficult times.

The company appointed Joseph Vittiglio to be chief business and legal officer. Jason Cole had been serving as chief legal officer for six years when Bluebird promoted him to chief strategy officer last year.

Vittiglio previously was chief business and legal officer at biotech company Finch Therapeutics Group, where he led a 2021 initial public offering that raised more than $130 million. Before joining Finch in 2020, he was general counsel and chief business officer at AMAG Pharmaceuticals.