Executive Committee
Sunil Bhilotra
Managing Director and interim Chief Executive Officer
MBA, London Business School
Bachelor of Commerce, McGill University
Professional background
Sunil Bhilotra served as Director of Portfolio Management, Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences at ADQ since 2020. He has been a Board member of Acino Group since 2022.
Gary Hughes
Chief Financial Officer
Honours Degree in Law of Leeds University, UK
Professional background
2017-18
Interim Chief Financial Officer at Solifos AG in Windisch, Switzerland
2016-17
Chief Financial Officer at Equatex AG in Zurich, Switzerland
2013-16
Chief Financial Officer at Selecta Management AG in Cham, Switzerland
2008-13
Group Financial Controller at Selecta Management AG in Cham, Switzerland
2004-08
Head of Financial Reporting and Accounting at Ciba Vision AG in Embrach, Switzerland
2001-04
Senior Manager, Assurance Services at Ernst & Young in Manchester, UK and Zurich, Switzerland
1999-01
Financial Reporting Lecturer at Accountancy Tuition Centres in Manchester, UK
1994-99
Supervisor Assurance Services at Ernst & Young in Manchester, UK
Sarah Egan
Chief Human Resources Officer
EMCCC Organizational Behavior Studies, INSEAD
Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, University of Leicester
Professional background
2016-19
VP of HR, Region Europe, Roche
2015-16
Global Head of HR, Quality, Novartis
2012-15
Head of Talent Management and Organisational Development; Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Novartis
2011-12
Senior HR Business Partner Asia Pacific, Middle East and African Countries, Novartis
2010-11
Head of Talent Management and Organisational Development, Northern Europe, Novartis
2006-10
Global Human Resources Business Partner, Novartis
Mario Ricard
Chief Operations Officer
Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science – Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada.
Professional background
2015-17
Vice President – Plasma Manufacturing Europe at Baxalta/Shire, Zurich
2014-15
Vice President – Operations Strategy at Baxter, Zurich
2012-14
Vice President – Technical Services and BioSurgery Manufacturing at Baxter, Belgium and Switzerland
2010-12
Operations Director at Baxter, Belgium
2003-10
Plant Manager at Baxter, Belgium
1999-03
Plant Manager at Baxter, Canada
1992-99
Various roles in Production, Purchasing and Planning at Baxter, Canada
Laura Galimberti
Global Head of Commercial Operations
MBA SDA Bocconi
Master Degree in Telecommunication Engineering
Professional background
2015-17
Global Head of Commercial Excellence, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in Germany
2011-15
Italy Office Manager, ZS Associates in Italy
2008-09
Business Consulting Manager, Cap Gemini in Italy
2005-08
Senior Consultant, Ernst & Young in France
2003-05
Business Consultant, Accenture in Italy
Andrew Bird
Head of Middle East, Turkey and Africa
MBA, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield
PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of York, York
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Professional background
2017-18
General Manager Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean & Maghreb Region, Dubai
2011-17
Strategy & Operations Director Middle East, Africa & India
2016-17
General Manager Maghreb Region at Bristol-Myers Squibb
2013-14
General Manager South Africa at Bristol-Myers Squibb
2011-11
Business Director at Pase II Gulf, Dubai
2009-10
Regional Marketing Director Africa & Middle East (AfME)
2008-09
Senior European brand Manager at Pfizer
1999-07
Sales & Marketing roles at Janssen-Cilag Ltd. Uk & Ireland
1997-98
Medicinal Chemist at Cerebrus Ltd.
1996-97
Research Chemist at Glaxowellcome
1995-96
Production Manager at Croda International
Eugene Zaika
Head of Ukraine and CIS
DBA degree (ongoing), International Management Institute (IMI-Kyiv)
MBA, International Management Institute (IMI-Kyiv)
PhD in cardiology, Research Institute of Therapy (Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine)
MD, Kharkiv Medical Institute, honors
Professional background
2011-15
Takeda Cluster Head for Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Israel / General Director LLC Takeda Ukraine
2008-11
General Director, LLC Nycomed Ukraine
2005-08
Head of Represenative office of Nycomed in Ukraine and Moldova
2005-05
Marketing Manager, Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine and Moldova
2000-04
Marketing Manager, Aventis Intercontinental (Ukraine)
1998-00
East Ukraine Area Manager, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer (Ukraine)
1994-97
Medical representative, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer (Ukraine)
1993-97
Cardiologist, scientific associate in the department of clinical pharmacology, Research Institute of Therapy (Kharkiv)
Steve Mahoney
Head of New Regions (Africa, Latin America and Russia)
M.B.A, Rutgers Business School, New Jersey
B.A., Business Administration, Rutgers University, New Jersey
Professional background
2017-19
Vice President, Head of MetAsia Region, Boehringer-Ingelheim (formerly Merial)
2014-16
Vice President, Head of Asia Region, Merial Asia
2013-15
Head of Large Animals, Merial US
2008-13
Chief Information Officer, Merial
2005-08
Head of Global Supply Chain and Procurement, Merial
2001-05
Head of Companion Animals Enterprise, Asia Pacific and Latin America Regions, Merial
2000-01
Senior Director of Global E-business, Merial
1997-00
Associate Director, Business Administration, Merial Australia
Global Leadership Team (GLT)
Christina Peusch
Chief Legal & Integrity and Compliance Officer
German qualified lawyer, University of Passau, Passau, Germany
Professional background
2013-15
Head of Legal EUCAN (Europe/Canada), Emerging Markets and North Asia, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Zurich
2012-13
Senior Director Corporate Legal Affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Zurich
2010-12
Senior Director International Legal Affairs, Nycomed Germany Holding GmbH, Konstanz, Germany
2007-09
Director International Legal Affairs, Nycomed Germany Holding GmbH, Konstanz, Germany
2004-07
International Legal Affairs Manager, Altana Pharma AG, Konstanz, Germany
1995-04
Clifford Chance (prev. Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster), member of the Commercial Law and Corporate Finance practice areas and (chief) representative of the Beijing office; Frankfurt am Main and Munich, Germany, and Beijing, PRC.
Eva Kopecna
Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance
MD University of Palacky, CZ
MSc in Regulatory Affairs University of Wales, UK
PhD in Clinical and Social Pharmacy Charles University, CZ
Professional background
2019-20
Head of Regulatory Affairs, Zentiva, Prague
2012-18
Senior Director Regulatory Affairs Global OTC, PGT Healthcare, Geneva
2004-12
Regulatory Affairs Director, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Opava, Czech Republic
Larisa Bernstein
Global Head of Communications
Larisa holds a degree from the University of Oslo, Norway, where she majored in English and marketing communications.
Professional background
2020-21
Senior Communications Leader, Global Neuroscience and Rare Diseases DTA, Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland
2018-20
Communications Leader, Global Medical Affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland
2010-18
Marketing and Communications Manager, Landis+Gyr, Switzerland
2006-09
Senior Corporate Communications Manager, Nycomed (now Takeda Pharmaceuticals), Denmark & Switzerland
2000-06
PR and Communications Manager, Nycomed Russia/CIS (now Takeda Pharmaceuticals), Russia
Khatira Mansouri
Global Head of Quality
Khatira is a trained pharmacist from Ruprecht-Karls-University – Heidelberg, Germany, and a European Qualified Person.
Professional background
2016-20
Head of External Quality Biologics Drug Product, Drug Substance & Medical Devices, Novartis, Switzerland
2015-15
Social business projects in Afghanistan
2013-14
Head of Quality Assurance - Quality Release Complaint Management, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Germany
2012-13
Head of Quality Management Third Party, Novartis, Germany
2011-12
Production Manager, Sandoz, USA
2009-11
Quality Assurance Compliance Manager, Novartis, Switzerland
2010-10
Nomination for Novartis Accelerated Quality Management Development Program (AQMD), Novartis, Switzerland
2006-09
Manager Quality Assurance & European Qualified Person, Novartis, Germany
Philippe Seminati
Global Head of Supply Chain
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering – University of Metz, France.
Professional background
2016-18
Freelance Supply Chain Consultant, accross Europe
2012-16
Director Corporate Supply Chain, Aenova Group, Germany
2010-12
Senior Supply Chain Consultant, BeOne Group, Switzerland
2010-10
Freelance Supply Chain Consultant, GSK, Belgium
2009-10
Freelance Supply Chain Consultant, across Europe
2008-09
Head of Supply Chain – Johnson Control Automotive, Germany
2002-08
Logistics, Supplier & Parts Manager – Smart France SAS (Daimler Group), France
Ralph Halter
Global Head of IT
BSc Marketing, University of Applied Science FHNW Basel
Professional background
2009-19
Corporate Head of IT Strategy and Planning, Panalpina, Basel
2003-05
Head of IT Competence Center Latin America, Panalpina, Brazil
1995-03
Head of Corporate Data Center, Panalpina Basel
1993-95
Senior Data Administrator Retail, Ikea, Southern Europe, Basel
1990-92
Product Manager, Fides Informatik, Basel
John Norman
Head of the Africa Region
Bachelor of Commerce Majored in Marketing & Economics
Professional background
2017-18
General Manager Litha Healthcare, South Africa
2014-17
Managing Director Africa at Takeda
2007-14
CEO Takeda South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa & Indian Ocean Islands
1999-08
Marketing & Sales Director Janssen- Cilag Pharmaceuticals, South Africa
1998-99
Business Unit Manager Janssen-Cilag Consumer Pharmaceuticals, South Africa
1993-98
Regional Sales Manager Jannsen-Cilag Pharmaceuticals, South Africa
1991-93
Product Manager Adcock Ingram Pharmaceuticals, South Africa
1988-91
Product Manager J&J Medical, South Africa
1987-88
Professional Sales Representative J&J Medical, South Africa
Denis Glyadyaev
Head of Russia
The Russian State Social University. Finance
Professional background
2017-18
OTC Business Unit Director Russia at Akrikhin/Polpharma, Moscow
2015-17
Sales and Business Development Director Russia and Belarus at Kimberly-Clark, Moscow
2013-15
Regional Director of Caucasus countries at Kimberly-Clark, Baku
2010-13
Head of Marketing for Baby Child Care and Family Care at Kimberly-Clark, Moscow
2008-13
Head of Trade Marketing for Family Care & Baby Child Care businesses at Kimberly-Clark, Moscow
2006-08
Regional Trade Marketing Leader Russia and CIS at Dirol Cadbury LLC, Moscow
2004-06
Head of Trade Marketing at EFKO Foods, Russia
1998-04
Various roles in sales in Russian companies
1997-98
Credit Expert at 'SBS - AGRO' Bank, Moscow
Jim Harold
Head of the Latin America Region (LATAM)
Bachelor of Science in Physiology from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
Professional background
2015-19
President and Head of Middle East and North Africa, Novartis Pharma Services AG
2011-15
Head of Novartis Vaccines Latin America, Novartis Argentina
2003-11
CEO and Country President, Novartis Argentina
2001-03
VP Transplant and Immunology Business Unit, Novartis USA
2000-01
CEO and Country President, Novartis Chile
1998-99
Head of Sales and Marketing Region Americas, Novartis Brazil
1997-98
Head of Specialty Business Unit, Novartis Argentina
1994-96
Head of Sales and Marketing Argentina, Sandoz
1991-94
General Manager West Africa, Sandoz
Board of Directors
Fahad Al Qassim
Chairman of the Board of Acino Group since April 2022
MBA in Finance, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia
Bachelor in Applied Computing, Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK
Professional background
Fahad Al Qassim is the Executive Director of Healthcare, Pharma and Financial Services at ADQ. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Amoun Pharmaceuticals and a Board Member of Pure Health, Daman, SEHA and Aramex. Prior to joining ADQ, Fahad served as the CEO of Emirates NBD Capital.
Kaj-Erik Relander
Vice Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee of Acino Group since July 2022
MBA, Aalto University in Finland and the Wharton School in the USA
MSc in Economics, Aalto University in Finland
Professional background
Kaj-Erik Relander is a businessman and an investor. In 2019, he joined ADQ as Member of the Board and Audit and Executive Committees. Kaj-Erik serves as a board member at a number of other companies, including Abu Dhabi Global Markets, Louis Dreyfus Company, SES (SESG), Starzplay Arabia and Apis Partners Private Equity Fund.
Sunil Bhilotra
Member of the Board of Acino Group since April 2022
MBA, London Business School
Bachelor of Commerce, McGill University
Professional background
Sunil Bhilotra served as Director of Portfolio Management, Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences at ADQ since 2020.
Per Edelmann
Member of the Board of Acino Group since July 2022
MSc, MBA and Bachelor in Finance from the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark
Professional background
Per Edelmann is an independent life sciences advisor and founder of Edelmann Advisory. Since 2014, he has served as an Operating Partner at Apax Partners and member of multiple non-executive boards in Europe, Middle East and North Africa.
Wael Al Hashimi
Member of the Board of Acino Group since July 2022
MBA in International Business, American Intercontinental University London, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Business Management, Queen Mary University in the UK
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
Wael Al Hashimi has served as the Associate Director, Alternative Investments and M&A at ADQ in the UAE since 2018. Prior to joining ADQ, he served as a Principal – Private Equity at Alcazar Capital in Dubai, UAE. Wael Al Hashimi holds board memberships at ADS Holding in the UAE, and Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company in Egypt.
Louay Abou Chanab
Member of the Board of Acino Group since July 2022
MBA in International Business, American Intercontinental University London, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Business Management, Queen Mary University in the UK
Professional background
Wael Al Hashimi has served as the Associate Director, Alternative Investments and M&A at ADQ in the UAE since 2018. Prior to joining ADQ, he served as a Principal – Private Equity at Alcazar Capital in Dubai, UAE. Wael Al Hashimi holds board memberships at ADS Holding in the UAE, and Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company in Egypt.