June 2021 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 44-45
// APPOINTMENTS //
Appointments
Mover of the Month
Sandoz, the generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars division of Novartis, has announced the appointment of Diane DiGangi Trench, as its UK country head. Previously vice president, Market Access and Patient Services at Sandoz in the US, Diane’s UK remit is to continue to expand access to biosimilar, generic and originator drugs to NHS patients. Her appointment coincides with the 15th anniversary of Sandoz launching the first biosimilar medicine approved for use in the UK. Diane joined Sandoz in 2018. Her work in the US company elevated market access to become a strategic function and increased biosimilar adoption through building broader payer and stakeholder relationships. She will based in Sandoz’ Camberley HQ and will report to Christophe Delenta, head of Cluster I, Sandoz Region Europe.
Acacia Pharma Group, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising novel products to improve the care of patients undergoing serious medical treatments such as surgery, invasive procedures, or chemotherapy, has named Debra (Deb) Hussain as chief commercial officer. Debra is a highly experienced commercial leader having spent over 20 years at Eli Lilly in a range of roles of increasing responsibility. These have included US and global product sales and marketing in both the hospital and out-patient settings. Prior to working in the pharma industry, she practised as a paediatric audiologist at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
World-renowned cancer researcher Professor Kristian Helin will take the helm at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) as chief executive from September. Kristian is a pioneer in understanding how changes to the way the DNA code is read and translated into protein can lead to cancer. He was the founding director of a scientific institute in his homeland of Denmark, led research centres in Italy and the US, and co-founded a successful biotech company. He will join the ICR on September 1 from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in the US, where he is Chair of the Cell Biology Program and Director of the Center for Epigenetics Research (CER). He spent 15 years as director of BRIC – a major biotech and innovation institute at the University of Copenhagen – and was also a Unit and Division Director at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. He will take over as chief executive from Professor Paul Workman, who announced in December 2019 his intention to step down from the role.
Healx, the AI-powered, patient-inspired technology company accelerating the discovery and development of rare disease treatments at scale, has announced the appointment of Andrew Watson to its senior leadership team as VP of Artificial Intelligence. In this new role, Andrew will be tasked with scaling Healx’ AI team and strategy to develop best-in-class drug discovery tools and accelerate innovation in the field of tech-driven treatment development for rare diseases. He brings with him a wealth of scientific and technical expertise, accrued over 15 years in the field, and joins the team from technology giant Dyson, where he was the founding member of the Machine Learning Research department.
Havas Just:: says it is making a number of significant hires to support an increase in demand for medical communications expertise from clients. Paula Hensler (pictured) has joined the team from Prime Global to take on the role of scientific director, and will oversee an editorial team including fellow new hires Nick Crabb, senior medical writer (from Ashfield Health), and Paola Frisone, medical writer. The team will be further boosted by Lisa Langley, principal medical writer, who joins the team in July.
The Department of Health and Social Care has appointed Professor Waljit Dhillo to the role of Dean of the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Academy. He will take up this role in September. Waljit is a Professor in Endocrinology & Metabolism, consultant endocrinologist and an NIHR senior investigator. He also serves as head of the Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine & head of Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Imperial College London. He is also currently the training lead for Imperial College NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.
Essential Pharma, an international specialty pharma company focused on maintaining access to well-established, 'at risk' products essential to patients across multiple therapeutic areas, announces the appointment of Steen Vangsgaard as chief executive officer. Steen has more than 20 years of experience in the specialty pharma and generics sector gained across a wide range of international commercial operations and companies. He joins from Covis Pharma, where he was senior vice president, General Manager Europe/Rest of world.
Visions4Health (V4H) has appointed Roshani Perera (pictured) as commercial director. Roshani is an established healthcare management consultant with over 20 years’ experience working within life sciences, and across the NHS and charitable sectors. Having run her own consultancy over the last nine years supporting big pharma as well as healthcare start-ups, she brings considerable experience of helping clients bring innovative medicines and technologies into the UK and European markets. Roshani is also a non-executive director for the Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network and a trustee for the charity Tackle Prostate Cancer. Chiara Charkham has also joined V4H as client services director. With two decades' experience in creative healthcare communications, Chiara brings a breadth of experience in delivering PR and marketing campaigns for both prescription and OTC medicines within the UK and global markets.
Crescendo Biologics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing novel, targeted T cell enhancing therapeutics, has named Dr Michael Booth as chief financial officer (CFO). Mike joins with over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance within the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Crescendo, Mike served as division vice president, Investor Relations & Corporate Responsibility at Incyte.
Global healthcare market research consultancy Research Partnership has announced that Chris Carles has joined as a director in its Philadelphia, US-based office and Andrew Way as a research director in its UK office. Chris has over 27 years’ experience in healthcare research and consulting, while Andrew is a seasoned market research professional with over 13 years’ experience in healthcare research and consulting.
NHS Digital has named Simon Bolton as its interim chief executive (CEO). Simon joins the organisation from Test and Trace where he has been chief information officer (CIO) since August 2020. Prior to Test and Trace, Simon was the CIO of Jaguar Land Rover, and brings deep and varied IT delivery, operations and leadership experience to this new role. He replaces Sarah Wilkinson, who has been CEO of the organisation for four years and will leave the position in June.
Regulatory and quality consultancy to the global healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector, Woodley BioReg, has made two new appointments: Michelle Hirst as a CMC quality consultant, bringing over 15 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical sector to the role, and joining Woodley BioReg from Thornton and Ross, and Jo Priestley as administration manager, heading up support for the consultancy.
ENGINE MHP+Mischief has appointed Louise Farmer, ex head of Corporate Communications at Sanofi, as director, and Jaber Mohamed, who will be joining the team following two years as chief press officer at the Department for Health and Social Care, as associate director. Louise's expertise spans public affairs, communications and campaigning, spending the majority of her 20-year career at Sanofi, where she led on award-winning Brexit communications and specialised in executive leadership, issues management and change communications. Jaber, a former journalist, oversaw all media relations for the UK’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – providing strategic advice to the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi and health secretary Matt Hancock.
Prescient, a biopharma product and portfolio strategy partner, has announced the recent appointment of two new senior members: Dr John Crowley as a director and Sugandh Sharma (pictured) as a senior director, both in the firm's Intelligence & Insights business. John has ten years of experience in disease landscape analysis, market research and forecasting, while Sugandh has over 14 years' experience in setting up new businesses and delivering strong commercial performance and growth in the healthcare consulting, research and intelligence sectors.
The Difference Collective has bolstered its senior team with six senior consultants joining its virtual model: Sarah Hornby brings 20 years of experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. She led communications for the UK government’s Vaccine Taskforce, as well as media and communications activities for GSK’s business and charitable partnerships;
Oana Nechifor joins as a visual storyteller crafting animation and illustration to use the power of visuals to convey complex ideas; published journalist and writer Jon Cope joins as a senior PR professional, writer and academic with 25 years' experience; Suzanne Branston joins as an accomplished creative director and designer with more than 25 years' experience; Lisa Brockwell brings more than 20 years of experience in data communications, brand positioning and corporate communications in the pharma industry; and Anneliese Levy brings over ten years' experience in the health sector, with particular expertise in health and medical writing, content development and research. She is a published author of research into the needs of men with advanced prostate cancer, cancer related-fatigue, NICE endorsed clinical guidance.