Jim Manzi, a member of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s board of directors, was named nonexecutive chairman of the board, the company announced today. He succeeds Paul M. Meister, who retired as chairman last month. Manzi was chairman from December 2003 through November 9, 2006, the closing date of the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific, which created Thermo Fisher Scientific. He is chairman of Stonegate Capital, through which he manages his personal investments in technology startup ventures in the US and abroad, the company said. Previously, he was chairman, president and CEO of Lotus Development Corp. from 1984 until 1995, when that company was acquired by IBM. Thermo Fisher Scientific is a Waltham, Mass.-based provider of analytical and laboratory instruments, equipment, software and services.