Executive Committee
Steffen Saltofte
Chief Executive Officer
MBA, IMD International, Lausanne, Switzerland
Bachelor, International Business & Economic and Strategic Market Management, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
Professional background
2017-17
Chief Operating Officer, EVP Global Commercial Operations at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in France and Germany
2014-17
Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President and Head Business Operations at Merial (Sanofi-group) in France
2011-14
Managing Director Nordic at Syngenta in Switzerland
2009-11
Integration Manager, Merger & Acquisitions at Syngenta in Switzerland
2006-07
General Manager at Maersk Line in Denmark
2004-06
Manager at Maersk Sealand in Denmark
1999-03
Branch Manager at Maersk Sealand in Saudi Arabia
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 Region - 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 Region - 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 Region - English-Speaking 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
Other members of Senior Management
Christina Peusch
Chief Legal & 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.
Philippe Seminati
Head of Global 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
Eva Kopecna
Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Medical 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
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
Larisa Bernstein
Head of Corporate 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
Jens Feierler
Head of Corporate Quality Assurance
Approbation as Pharmacist (State Examination), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
PhD in Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
Professional background
2017-19
Head of Quality Assurance / Qualified Person, Acino AG, Miesbach, Germany
2014-17
Laboratory Head / Manager Quality Control, Daiichi-Sankyo Europe GmbH, Pfaffenhofen, Germany
2012-14
Trainee (Quality Control & Production), Daiichi-Sankyo Europe GmbH, Pfaffenhofen, Germany
2007-12
Research Associate, Department for Clinical Chemistry & Clinical Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
John Norman
Regional Director, English Speaking Africa
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
General Manager, 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
General Manager, Latin America
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
John Beighton
Chairman of the Board
BSc. In Biochemistry, University of Manchester, England
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
- Chairman of the Board of Acino International AG since 26 March 2019
- Current term of office expires in 2021
Professional background
John Beighton previously served as interim Chief Executive Officer and Advisory Board Member for Zentiva. John has over 37 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and extensive knowledge in generics. He started his career with Smithkline Beecham holding increasing senior management positions. As the former Chief Executive Officer for Mercury Pharma, he successfully led the merger with Amdipharm to create AMCo, and more recently ensured a smooth transition of AMCo when it was acquired by Concordia.
Raj Shah
Vice-Chairman of the Board
FRCSI, Oxford Fellow Royal College of Surgeon
MBBS, Imperial College London
MBA, London Business School
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
- Vice-Chairman of the Board of Acino International AG since November 26, 2020
- Current term of office expires in 2021
Professional background
Raj is the partner and Head of Healthcare at Nordic Capital Advisory and has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Raj holds several non-executive positions including the boards of ERT, ArisGlobal, Alloheim and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.
Prior to joining, Raj’s healthcare experience spans both working as a practitioner, having initially qualified and practiced as a cardiac surgeon at Oxford, through to extensive transactional experience gained as Co-Head of Goldman Sachs healthcare investment banking practice where he advised private equity and corporate clients.
Tom Dean
BA, University of Virginia, USA; MBA, Harvard Business School, USA
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
- Member of the Board of Acino International AG since
December 17, 2013 - Current term of office expires in 2021
Professional background
Tom Dean is the Co-Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Avista Capital Partners. Prior to co-founding Avista Capital Partners in 2005, Mr. Dean led DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (“DLJMB”), serving as Co-Managing Partner of DLJMB since 1995 and Chairman of the Investment Committees of DLJMB I, DLJMB II, DLJMB III and DLJ Growth Capital Partners through December 2007. Mr. Dean currently serves on the boards of ConvaTec, Sidewinder Drilling, Zest Anchors, and VWR International. Mr. Dean formerly served as the Chairman of the board of Nycomed, Arcade, DeCrane Aircraft, Mueller and Von Hoffmann. He also formerly served on the boards of American Ref-Fuel, Argyle Television, BioPartners, Charles River Labs, Evergreen Media, Merrill, Safilo, Visant and IWCO Direct Holdings, among others.
Thomas Vetander
M.Sc. in Engineering Physics, Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm, Sweden
B.Sc. in Business Administration and Economics, Stockholm University School of Business, Sweden
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
- Member of the Board of Acino International AG since December 17, 2013
- Current term of office expires in 2021
Professional background
Thomas Vetander joined NC Advisory AB, advisor to the Nordic Capital funds, in 2006. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Vetander worked as a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company in Stockholm.
Alex Yu
B.A., Northwestern University, USA, MBA, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, USA
Board membership and executive mandates within the Acino Group
- Member of the Board of Acino International AG since October 19, 2017
- Current term of office on the Board expires in 2021
Professional background
Alex Yu joined Avista Capital Partners in 2017. Mr. Yu is a Vice President at Avista Capital Partners. He joined Avista Capital Partners in 2017. Prior to joining Avista, Mr. Yu worked in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he worked as an Associate at Fenway Partners and as an Analyst in the Technology Group at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. He currently serves on the boards of Inform Diagnostics and Trimb Healthcare.