30 April 2020 - Deborah Wilkes
Oystershell Laboratories has recruited Mike Van Ganse as chief executive officer with effect from 1 May 2020. The Belgian consumer healthcare company is seeking to launch its products in the US and China as well as Europe.
Van Ganse joins from fellow Belgian company Vision Healthcare where he was chief marketing and innovation officer.
Oystershell pointed out that Van Ganse had 25 years of experience in the consumer healthcare sector. He has worked for Bayer Santé Familiale, Novartis Consumer Health and Omega Pharma, and was the founder and chief executive officer of JeCare, the company behind the nail fungus treatment Excilor that was sold to Vemedia.
Commenting on his appointment, Van Ganse said: "I am looking forward to heading up a company with such enormous growth potential.”
Oystershell was acquired in June 2017 by the European private-equity firm Gilde Buy Out Partners for an undisclosed sum. The company said at the time that Gilde "fully supports" its growth strategy, which centres on "further internationalisation and continued investment in product development across OTC segments".
Oystershell's products are sold under its own brand names – including Elimax, Pistal and Pixie – as well as under the brand names of large multinationals.