24 April 2019 - Deborah Wilkes
Novartis has recruited a new chief executive officer for Sandoz, Moberg Pharma plans to revamp its management team, and the French OTC industry association, AFIPA, has a new president.
Sandoz gets new chief from GSK
Novartis has appointed Richard Saynor as chief executive officer of Sandoz with effect no later than 1 November 2019.
Saynor will join from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where he is senior vice president for classic and established products, commercial and digital platforms. Novartis noted that he managed a USD10 billion established products portfolio, comprising more than 350 brands commercialised in over 120 countries.
Before joining GSK, Saynor held senior roles at Sandoz. Novartis said he had overseen a strong expansion of the generics business across Asia, Latin America and Turkey.
He will be a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis, and will report to Vas Narasimhan, chief executive officer of Novartis.
Richard Francis stepped down as chief executive officer of Sandoz at the end of March 2019. Francesco Balestrieri – region head Europe at Sandoz – was appointed ad-interim chief executive officer (click here to read the News story).
Moberg to revamp top team
Moberg Pharma plans to revamp its management team following the recent divestment of its OTC business.
The Swedish company's Board of Directors and Nomination Committee is proposing Anna Ljung be promoted from chief financial officer to chief executive officer. Current chief executive officer Peter Wolpert would become executive chairman.
In addition, Torbjörn Wärnheim has been nominated as deputy chief executive officer and senior vice president research and development, while current finance manager Sarah Hellerfelt has been nominated as chief financial officer.
The changes, which need to be approved by the incoming Board of Directors elected at the Annual General Meeting on 15 May 2019, would take effect on 16 May 2019.
Moberg has also engaged Amir Tavakkol as senior advisor research and development. The company said he brought 20 years of experience in the development and registration of nail fungus drugs in the US. He has worked for Novartis, Schering-Plough, Topica Pharmaceuticals and Viamet, and contributed to the development of Lamisil.
Chief medical officer Shaw Sorooshian and vice president finance Mark Beveridge are leaving Moberg.
Moberg announced in February 2019 that it was divesting its OTC business to two private-equity firms in a cash deal worth SEK1.43 billion (USD155 million) (click here to read the News story).
The Swedish company plans to focus on developing and commercialising MOB-015, its novel topical terbinafine formulation for treating nail fungus. It has signed an exclusive European licensing agreement for MOB-015 with Bayer Consumer Health (click here to read the News story).
AFIPA has a new president
Christophe de la Fouchardière has been elected president of AFIPA. He is general manager of Laboratoires Omega Pharma France, which is part of Perrigo.
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