Pharma: executives on the move

Astra-Zeneca appoints former CEO of Eli Lilly

Radu Rasinaru, former head of Eli Lilly, took over the leadership of Astra Zeneca’s operations in Romania, following to take up the new duties on August 1. He told Wall-Street he was too young to stay in a company for too long and he wished to improve his management skills in a larger company, such as Astra Zeneca.

“An increasing number of companies choose to change managers, because they find people with the same management skills and expertise as before crisis, but at a lower cost”, said George Butunoiu, managing partner of the executive search George Butunoiu Ltd, and also one of the best known head-hunters in Romania.

Lars Ramneborn takes over leadership of Zentiva Romania

Lars Ramneborn is the new managing director of the local operations of Czech-based drugmaker Zentiva, thus succeeding Dragos Damian.

Before this appointment Ramneborn was vicepresident for trade at Zentiva Group. He is also member of Zentiva NV’s board of directors.

Rumors of CEO change

The round of appointments in the pharmaceutical sector has fuelled rumors on potential other top management changes. Market sources say managing director Ruxandra Nastase (photo) and Marius Chereches, group business development & supply chain director at Ozone will step down by the end of the summer.

After six years with A&D Pharma, Nastase took over leadership of Ozone Romania in 2006, and her main objective was to increase sales and profit as well as to consolidate the subsidiary at a regional level.

Prior to joining Ozone, Marius Chereches was the managing director of PharmaFarm, a drug distributor from Transilvania, acquired by Gedeon Richter in 2007.

Actavis� CEO steps down after 10 years

A month before Dragos Damian head of Zentiva Romania resigned, another pharma heavyweight Laurentiu Scheusan (photo) has announced it will step down as CEO of Actavis Romania after ten years in the company.

Prior to this announcement made by Scheusan, Antibiotice Iasi (BSE: ATB), one of the top 10 drug producers, has passed under the leadership of Ioan Nani, one year after being replaced by the former marketing director of the company, Coca Cascaval.

In May, Catalin Radu was appointed to head the marketing operations of one of the regional divisions of German-based Bayern Healthcare.

GSK takes new CEO

David Lechleiter (photo), vicepresident and managing director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Romania for two years, was promoted to vicepresident of Vaccine and Commercial Operations at GSK France.

He will be replaced by Patrick Desbiens, former director commercial operations for Quebec, at GSK Canada. Dana Stanciulescu resigned from her role as country manager of Teva Pharmaceuticals to get off the ground a business in pharma advisory.

Sorin Mocanu was appointed as head of local operations of Swiss-based PharmaSwiss. Iztok Sever, former leader of Swiss-based Sandoz’s operations in Romania has been promoted at the helm of Sandoz’s subsidiaries for Romania and Bulgaria.

A&D Pharma finds COO replacement

Pharmaceutical group A&D Pharma, the largest integrated marketing and sales services, wholesale and retail business in Romania which earlier this year announced the resignation of Vivian Diaconescu as COO of Chief Operating Officer of its marketing and sales business line has found its pick: Jean-Michel Lespinasse.

Jean-Michel Lespinasse (photo) has over 17 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most of it acquired during his time at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) from 1996 to 2006.

Prior to joining A&D Pharma, Lespinasse had been COO of Delta Medical Russia, a provider of full range pharmaceutical promotional services in Ukraine and Russia, according to the company.

LaborMed grabbed spotlight in H1 2008

The most complex management shuffle process in first quarter last year was at drug producer LaborMed Pharma, after being acquired by US-based buyout firm Advent International.

Subsequently, American investors brought at the helm of LaborMed Stephen Stead (CEO-photo), Mircea Ilie (CFO), Anca Petrescu (HR director), Adrian Stroilescu (development director), Andreea Ombas (marketing manager), Mirel Florica (operation director) and Lucian Codreanu (commercial director)