Pharmaceutical Market Europe • November 2020 • 42-44
APPOINTMENTS
MSD
DEAN LI
MSD (Merck) has appointed Dean Li as executive vice president and president, Merck Research Laboratories (MRL). Prior to this, Li was senior vice president of discovery sciences and translational medicine at MRL. He joined MSD in 2017 as vice president and head of translational medicine. Previously, he held positions of increasing responsibility in translational medicine research at the University of Utah in the US. Most recently, he served as the H.A. & Edna Benning professor of medicine and cardiology, chief scientific officer, associate vice president and vice dean at the University of Utah Health System. During his time at the University of Utah, he co-founded multiple biotech companies based upon research conducted in his laboratory, including Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Hydra Biosciences and Navigen Pharmaceuticals. He is also a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
Bayer
CHRISTIAN ROMMEL
Bayer has appointed Christian Rommel as head of research and development in its pharma division. Prior to joining Bayer, Rommel held the role of senior vice president, global head of oncology research and early development at Swiss pharma Roche. He has also held executive level R&D roles at Amgen, Intellikine as well as scientific leadership positions at Merck Serono and Regeneron.
Merck KGaA
DANNY BAR-ZOHAR
Merck KGaA has appointed Danny Bar-Zohar as global head of development for the healthcare business sector. Bar-Zohar has over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He has successfully led mid- and late-stage clinical development across a range of therapy areas at Teva Pharmaceuticals, Novartis and most recently at Syncona Investment Management.
Insitro
ROGER PERLMUTTER
Insitro has appointed Roger Perlmutter as its first independent board director. Perlmutter joins from MSD (Merck) where he served as executive vice president and president of Merck Research Laboratories. During his time at MSD, Perlmutter played a key role in the approval and development of the blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda. Prior to Merck, he was EVP and head of research and development at Amgen.
Neogene Therapeutics
FRANZ HUMER
Neogene Therapeutics has appointed Franz Humer as executive chairman of the board of directors. Previously, Humer served as chairman and chief executive officer of Roche over a period of 16 years. He joined Roche as head of the pharmaceuticals division and member of the board. Prior to Roche, Humer spent over a decade at Glaxo Holdings.
Vico Therapeutics
RUPERT SANDBRINK
Dutch biotech Vico Therapeutics has appointed Rupert Sandbrink as chief medical officer. Sanbrink has over 20 years of experience across all stages of clinical development. Prior to joining Vico, he served as chief development and chief medical officer at Topas Therapeutics. He also worked as vice president, head of experimental medicine, women’s health & common mechanism research at Bayer.
Vico Therapeutics
ANDERS HINSBY
Vico Therapeutics has also appointed Anders Hinsby as an independent director. Hinsby brings over 15 years of experience to Vico as a biotech entrepreneur, executive and investor. Currently, he is the chief executive officer of Muna Therapeutics and works as entrepreneur-in-residence with Novo Seeds. He also co-founded and was the CEO of Orphazyme from 2009 to 2019.
CGT Catapult
NICK JOHNSON
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) has appointed Nick Johnson as its chief strategy and impact officer. Previously, Johnson was commercial director at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), which forms part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Prior to CPI, he held strategic director roles at Johnson Matthey and Catalent, as well as SAFC.
Polyneuron
ALED WILLIAMS
Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals has appointed Aled Williams as chief business officer. Williams joins with over 25 years of leadership experience in the pharma industry, with a recent focus on developing and commercialising rare disease therapeutics. Most recently, he held chief commercial officer positions at VectivBio and Therachon. Prior to these roles, Williams worked at Shire Pharmaceuticals for over seven years.
Centogene
ANDRIN OSWALD
German rare disease biotech Centogene has appointed Andrin Oswald as chief executive officer, effective 1 December. Most recently, Oswald was the delegate for COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunotherapies for the Federal Government of Switzerland. Prior to that, he was director of Life Science Industry Engagement and Partnership at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Achilles Therapeutics
KARL PEGGS
Karl Peggs has joined Achilles Therapeutics as chief medical officer. Peggs is currently a professor of transplant science and cancer immunotherapy at UCL Cancer Institute and scientific director of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit for Stem Cells and Immunotherapies. He also works as clinical and scientific director of Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Cellular Immunotherapy at UCLH.
Evox Therapeutics
DAVID LOWE
Evox Therapeutics has appointed David Lowe as vice president of research. Lowe has over 20 years of biotech and large pharma R&D experience. Prior to joining Evox, he spent over 12 years at AstraZeneca, most recently as senior director of biologics engineering. In this role, Lowe and his team delivered molecules for all respiratory, inflammatory and autoimmunity antibody projects at AZ.
Touchlight
KAREN FALLEN
Karen Fallen has joined UK-based biotech Touchlight as chief executive officer of its DNA Services. Fallen joins the team at Touchlight from Lonza where she worked as president, mammalian and microbial development and manufacturing. She has over 30 years of industry experience, and has worked in scientific, commercial and licensing roles of increasing seniority at Lonza Pharma and Biotech.
Immunocore
PETER RATCLIFFE
Immunocore has appointed Peter Ratcliffe as a non-executive director. Ratcliffe joins Immunocore with more than 30 years of experience as a physician scientist. Currently, he serves as director of clinical research at The Francis Crick Institute in London. In 2019, Ratcliffe was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine alongside William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza.
ONK Therapeutics
CHRIS NOWERS
ONK Therapeutics has appointed Chris Nowers as chief executive officer. Nowers is an experienced biopharma executive, with significant cell therapy expertise from his tenure at Kite Pharma, where he served as head of Europe. Previously, he was CEO of Avantogen Oncology and also held general roles at Amgen, as well as commercial leadership roles in immunology at Bristol Myers Squibb.
HOOKIPA
JEAN-CHARLES SORIA
HOOKIPA Pharma has appointed Jean-Charles Soria to its board of directors. Soria is professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology at the University of Paris-Saclay and currently serves as director general of the Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre. From 2017 to 2019, Soria was senior vice president at AstraZeneca, where he was responsible for early oncology research and development.
Vaccitech
MEG MARSHALL
Vaccitech has appointed Meg Marshall as chief medical officer. Marshall has over 25 years of experience in the preclinical and clinical development of cell and antibody-based immunotherapy for infectious disease and cancer. Prior to joining Vaccitech, she held directorship positions in the clinical research departments of Kyowa Kirin, Kite Pharma and Pfizer.
Mereo Biopharma
HEIDI PETERSON
Heidi Peterson has joined Mereo Biopharma as senior vice president, regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Mereo, Peterson served as vice president, regulatory affairs at Kartos Therapeutics. Before that she served as vice president, regulatory affairs at Immune Design, and worked as vice president, regulatory affairs and quality at BN-Immunotherapeutics, which was fully acquired by Bavarian Nordic in 2009.
Vaccitech
GEORGY EGOROV
Georgy Egorov has also joined Vaccitech, having been appointed as the company’s new chief financial officer. Egorov brings more than 20 years of experience as well as extensive knowledge of investor relations and corporate development to the company. He joins Vaccitech from Exscientia, a global leader in AI drug discovery, where he also served as chief financial officer and board member.
AM-Pharma
MAARTEN KRAAN
AM-Pharma has appointed Maarten Kraan as chief medical officer. Kraan brings over 25 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience to AM-Pharma and joins the company from Pierre Fabre where he was head of R&D. Prior to Pierre Fabre, Kraan was head of R&D at Stallergenes Greer and senior vice president, head innovative medicines, respiratory and inflammation at AstraZeneca.
Topas Therapeutics
KLAUS MARTIN
Klaus Martin has been appointed chief executive officer of Topas Therapeutics. Martin joins Topas from Apobiologix – Apotex’s biotechnology division – where he served as president. Prior to that, he served as chief scientific officer of Polpharma Biologics. Previously, Martin worked at Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals, most recently as global head, business development & licensing.
UDG Healthcare
RYAN QUIGLEY
UDG Healthcare has appointed Ryan Quigley as chief operating officer. Quigley has over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles and has previously worked for AbbVie, Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb. This includes experience of guiding the commercial operations for blockbuster brands such as Humira when he worked as vice president of immunology global marketing at AbbVie.
UDG Healthcare
ANNE WHITAKER
Also joining UDG Healthcare is Anne Whitaker, who has been appointed as non-executive director of the company. Whitaker has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry, including senior leadership roles with large pharmaceutical, biotech and speciality pharma companies. She is currently the chief executive officer of Aerami Therapeutics, having held this role since October 2018.
earthware
RICHARD LONG
earthware has appointed Richard Long as account director. Long has over 15 years of experience as a healthcare consultant and relationship manager, and has worked across the pharma, biotech and life sciences sectors. He previously spent three years working within the NHS, and was responsible for communication, engagement and clinical network management across the East Midlands.
BCW
ACHIM KAUTZ
BCW has appointed Achim Kautz as a senior advisor. Kautz is a healthcare policy expert and patient advocate at global and national levels. He was a founding member of the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) and has been a special consultant of the World Hepatitis Alliance board since 2008. Kautz also contributed to three WHO Resolutions on the elimination of hepatitis C.
Porterhouse Medical Group
CLARA UTLEY
Clara Utley has joined Porterhouse Medical Group’s ophthalmology team as an account executive. Utley brings scientific expertise and experience to her new role at Porterhouse, with previous experience gained from working as a sales and marketing assistant at Menarini Diagnostics. In addition to her professional experience, she gained a BSc in biological sciences from the University of Exeter.
Porterhouse Medical Group
INDIRA RODRIGUEZ
Porterhouse Medical Group has also appointed Indira Rodriguez as an account executive. Rodriguez has expertise in life sciences, with a BSc in biological sciences from the University of Leicester and an MSc in clinical and public health nutrition from University College London. She previously completed an internship at ISO Health and more recently worked for a small HR software company.
Porterhouse Medical Group
HENRY BIGGS
A third new hire at Porterhouse Medical Group is Henry Biggs, who joins as an account executive working on global accounts. Biggs recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc in biotechnology and an MSc in biotechnology and enterprise. He also completed an internship at MedImmune working on a project related to the flu vaccine.
Twelve
CHRIS WEBB
Chris Webb, co-founder of new healthcare comms agency Twelve, has taken on the role of strategic director at the firm. Prior to co-founding Twelve, Webb spent almost 15 years at Pegasus, where he joined as an account executive. Most recently, he served as a director at Pegasus for two years. Earlier in his career, Webb worked as an account executive at Ogilvy.
Twelve
NEIL SPARKS
Neil Sparks, also a co-founder of healthcare comms agency Twelve, has taken on the role of creative director at the firm. Before co-founding Twelve, Sparks spent nearly ten years working at Pegasus Public Relations, where he most recently served as head of design and creative services. Sparks brings with him a wealth of design and creative experience within the life sciences and pharma industries.
11 London
SARAH SPEED
11 London has appointed Sarah Speed as its new business director. Speed brings a wealth of healthcare client experience to the team at 11 London, gained from working at three communications networks – IPG, Omnicom and WPP. She has also managed successful global campaigns for several blockbuster Rx brands and been involved in the WPP Women in Leadership Programme.
11 London
JENN BAXTER
Also joining 11 London is Jenn Baxter, who has been appointed as senior integrated designer. Baxter has over 15 years of creative experience, including at Arthur London. She joins 11 London from GOOD agency, where she served as the head of craft. Baxter brings an array of skills to the 11 London team, including design, animation, illustrating and video editing.
11 London
FLORINE MORILLO
A third new appointment at 11 London is Florine Morillo, who joins the agency as a project manager. Prior to joining 11 London, Morillo worked on influencer marketing, which involved bringing disruptive creative ideas to life on Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok. She has also worked for Fundación Ecomar, a Spanish charity with a focus on protecting the sea.