Management
Andrew Bird
Interim Chief Executive Officer
MBA, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield
PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of York, York
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich
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2018-23
General Manager, Head of Region, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Acino
2017-18
General Manager Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean & Maghreb Region at Bristol-Myers Squibb
2011-17
Strategy & Operations Director Middle East, Africa & India at Bristol-Myers Squibb
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
Max Sorokin
Chief Financial Officer
MBA, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
BA, Economics, Business, German, Wabash College
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2019-23
Head of Group Commercial Finance at Acino in Zurich, Switzerland
2018-19
ESSA Beverages Supply Chain Finance Lead at PepsiCo in Barcelona, Spain
2013-18
Senior Manager Finance at PepsiCo in Geneva, Switzerland
2010-12
Associate Director, Licensing & Business Development at Merck Serono in Geneva, Switzerland
2009-10
Consultant/Talent Partner, Life Science Practice at a-connect in Zurich, Switzerland
2002-09
Various roles in Finance at Eli Lilly & Co in Indianapolis, USA
Richard Letzelter
Chief Human Resources Officer
MSc Business Marketing, Ecole Supérieure des Technologies et des Affaires – ESTA
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2020-23
Directeur des Resources Humaines France - P&O Head at Novartis, Paris
2019-20
HR Head Region Europe a.i. at Novartis, Basel
2016-19
Head of Talent management and OD - Region Europe at Novartis, Basel
2012-16
Head of Talent management and OD - Middle East and North Africa cluster at Novartis, Dubai
2007-12
Head of Capability and Organisation Development - Egypt at Vodafone
2005-07
Human Resources Manager global teams - Japan at Vodafone
2003-05
Human Resources Manager - Global Content Services at Vodafone, London
2000-02
Head of Human Resources at Vizzavi, Paris
1997-00
Marketing HR and HR Manger - UK at Altran
Christina Peusch
Chief Legal & Integrity and Compliance Officer
German qualified lawyer, University of Passau, Passau, Germany
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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.
Mario Ricard
Chief Operations Officer
Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science – Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada.
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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
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
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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)
Mansoor Menai
Interim Head of Middle East, Turkey and Africa
MBA, Finance, Business Administration and Management Sciences, Imperial College London
BSc (Hons), Computer Science
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2017-19
Finance Director META Region, Acino
2016-20
Partner, Amwaaj Life Sciences
2001-15
Various Finance Director roles, GSK
1991-98
Various senior roles, SmithKline Beecham
Joel Barlan
CEO at M8 Pharmaceuticals
Ingénieur, Ecole de Purpan, Toulouse
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2012-14
CEO of Meizler UCB Brazil
2005-12
Latin America Regional Manager at UCB
2004-05
Interlatina Regional Manager at Sanofi
2000-04
General Manager Central America & Caribbean at Aventis Pharmaceutical
John Norman
Head of Africa
Bachelor of Commerce Majored in Marketing & Economics
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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
Klyde Takaline
Global Head of Quality
Klyde holds a Master of Science – Physics from the University of Strasbourg and a Master in Project Management
2020-23
VP Head Corporate Quality Assurance, Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany
2019-20
Head Global Development Quality Operations & Continuous Improvement, Novartis, Switzerland
2018-20
Head Quality Business Unit (Anti-Infectives Spain Aseptic Process), Sandoz, Spain
2016-18
Global Head, Strategy & Project Management Office - Novartis Technical Operations (NTO), Novartis, Switzerland
2016-16
Head of Commercial Quality Saudi Arabia, Novartis, Saudi Arabia
2013-16
Global Head Operations & Strategic Planning - Global Pharma Quality, Novartis, Switzerland
2011-13
Site Quality Head, Novartis, Brazil / PM International Assignment at Novartis, USA
2008-11
CVM Business Unit: Sr. Global Progr. Operations Manager - Heart Failure, Novartis, Switzerland
2007-08
Sr. Clinical Manager, Novartis, Switzerland
Stefano Di Biase
Global Head of Portfolio Strategy and Commercial Excellence
MSc in International Management, Audencia, Nantes
MSc in International Business, Aston University, Birmingham
2019-23
Global Head of Portfolio Strategy at Acino, Zurich
2012-19
Associate Principal, Consulting Services - M&A and Strategy at IQVIA, London
2012-12
FX Analyst at Morgan Stanley, London
2008-09
Junior Auditor - Industrials and Consumer Markets at KPMG, Milano
Martin Sandgap
Global Head of B2B
BBA, Lund University, Lund
2020-23
Regional Business Director at Acino, Zurich
2019-20
Global Head of Transformation at Acino, Zurich
2014-19
Head of Business Evaluation & Deal Structuring (BEADS) at Acino, Zurich
2014-14
Short Term Consultant at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Zurich
2013-13
Director Global Marketing - Commercial Assessment External Opportunities at Takeda, Zurich
2012-13
Director Global Marketing - Commercial Assessment External Opportunities at Takeda, Chicago
2011-12
Associate Director - Business Evaluation and Deal Structuring at Takeda, Zurich
2010-11
Associate Director - Business Evaluation and Deal Structuring at Nycomed, Copenhagen
2008-10
Senior Manager Business Evaluation, Business development at Nycomed, Copenhagen
2005-08
International Product Manager at Nycomed, Copenhagen
2001-05
Nordic Product Manager at Nordic Drugs
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
2019-20
Head of Regulatory Affairs, Zentiva, Prague
2012-18
Senior Director Regulatory Affairs Global OTC, PGT Healthcare, Geneva
2006-12
Regulatory Affairs Director, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Opava, Czech Republic
2004-06
Director of Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance - CEE Region, Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Czech Republic
2002-04
Regulatory Affairs Manager - CEE region & Site RA, Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Czech Republic
2000-02
Head of Clinical Trials, Head of Clinical Trials, Ivax Pharmaceuticals, 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.
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
Samir El Nasharty
Global Head of Supply Chain
BSc of Management Sciences, Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, MBA, CPIM /APICS
2022-23
Regional Supply Chain Director META – Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Acino, United Arab Emirates
2021-22
APMA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Innovative Medicines Regional Supply Chain Head at Novartis, United Arab Emirates
2016-22
MEA Cluster SC Head at Novartis, United Arab Emirates
2013-16
Supply Chain Head at Novartis (Innovative Medicine) Saudi Arabia
2008-13
Product Supply Section head, Egypt, Near East and North Africa at Novartis OTC, Egypt
2007-08
Material Planner at GSK, Egypt
Ralph Halter
Global Head of IT
BSc Marketing, University of Applied Science FHNW Basel
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
Semih Sen
Chairman of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
BA degree from Bogazici University in Business Administration
Executive education programs at London Business School and Harvard Business School.
Semih Sen has over 25 years of experience in leading healthcare organisations, business and project development, building start-ups and creating financial solutions for medical and digital technologies on an international scale. He has built and led many healthcare assets as an investor, board member, financier, asset manager and advisor across Europe, Middle East and USA.
Milad Hadziabdic
Member of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
MBA (honors), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA
BS Electrical Engineering, Grove City College, USA
Milad Hadziabdic is the Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at ADQ. Prior to ADQ, Milad was a Managing Director in Mergers & Acquisitions Investment Banking at Citigroup for over 16 years in both New York and London. At Citigroup, he led M&A advisory efforts for the Healthcare Services sector in the US and for the Industrials sector across EMEA. Prior to Citigroup, Milad spent 7 years at General Electric, in engineering and finance roles, most recently managing finance for a division of GE Transportation Systems.
Hamda Eid AlMheiri
Member of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
Corporate Director Certificate from Harvard Business School
Hamda Eid AlMheiri is the Head of Government Affairs at ADQ and a member of Presight’s board of directors . In a prior position at ADQ, Hamda led the Corporate Planning and Performance Department which forms part of the Strategy function. Her professional track record includes roles with the Abu Dhabi Executive Office as a Project Manager in charge of financial policy and efficiency and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi as a Financial Policy and Efficiency Specialist. Previously, Hamda served as Manager Commercial Analyst for Strategy and Planning at Etihad Airways.
Isabel Afonso
Member of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
Computer science engineer, Minho University, Portugal
General management program, INSEAD, Paris and Singapore.
Executive education programs at IMD business school in Switzerland, Wharton and Harvard business school in the USA.
Isabel Afonso is the CEO of the Life Sciences international platform, owned by ADQ. Prior to this role, Isabel was the Head of In-Market Brands and Business Innovation for Novartis International based in Basel, Switzerland. Before moving to HQ she was the general manager in China for Novartis Oncology, a major focus market for Novartis. Until beginning of 2021, Isabel served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Performance Health. Between 2002 and 2018, she held multiple business and functional leadership roles in the Novartis group.
Abdullah Tahlak
Member of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
Executive education, Yale School of Management
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance, American University of Sharjah
Abdullah Tahlak is an Investment Manager of ADQ’s Healthcare, Life Sciences and Financial Services Portfolio. Prior to joining ADQ, Abdullah served as an investment professional within Mubadala Capital’s Private Equity Team.
Andrew Bird
Member of the Board of Acino Group since December 2023
MBA, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield
PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of York, York
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Andrew Bird serves as Acino’s Interim Chief Executive Officer since July 2023. Before taking on this role, he was the Head of Middle East, Turkey and Africa for the company. Prior to joining Acino, Andrew held various executive positions in the Middle East and Africa for companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, PHASE II Gulf, Pfizer, and Janssen.