Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, PhD
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Member of the Executive Committee (from November 2020 until September 2023)
Pierre-Alain Ruffieux holds a doctorate in Biotechnology and a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne (CH).
Former Activities and Functions
- Head of Global Pharma Technical Operations & Member Pharma Executive Team, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (2017–2020)
- Head of Quality and Compliance, Global Pharma Technical Operations, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (2015–2017)
- Head of Quality, Pharmaceutical Division & Member Pharmaceutical Executive Committee, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2012–2015)
- Head of Global Pharma Technical Operations & Biologics Quality Assurance, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2010–2012)
- Global Head of Quality for Biopharmaceutical, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2009–2010)
- Various positions in technical development and manufacturing at Novartis Pharmaceuticals & Sandoz, Novartis Group (2003–2009)
- Various positions in technical development and manufacturing at Serono (now Merck Serono) (1998–2003)
Caroline Barth
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Member of the Executive Committee
(from May 2020 until April 2023)
Caroline Barth holds a degree in European Business Studies from the University of Sunderland (UK) and an MBA from The Open University, Brussels (BE).
Former Activities and Functions
- Global Head of Human Resources, Pharma, Novartis Pharma AG (2016–2020)
- Global Head Pharma Strategy, Novartis Pharma AG (2019)
- Global Head of Human Resources, Pharma Manufacturing and Quality, Novartis Pharma AG (2014–2016)
- Global Head of Human Resources, Central & Eastern Europe, Novartis Pharma AG (2013–2014)
- VP, Human Resources Canada Pharma & Corporate HR Leader, Novartis Pharma AG (2010–2013)
- Head of Talent Management, Organizational Development & Staffing, Europe, Novartis Pharma AG (2008–2010)
- Head of Human Resources Global IT, Novartis Pharma AG (2006–2008)
- Human Resources Integration Leader, Novartis Pharma AG (2004–2006)
- HR Communications Leader, EMEA & APAC, Cisco Systems (2001–2003)
- HR Generalist, Emerging Markets, Cisco Systems (1997–2001)
Claude Dartiguelongue
President, Capsules & Health Ingredients Division (from January 2020 until July 2022) and Member of the Executive Committee (from April 2021 until July 2022)
Claude Dartiguelongue holds a master’s degree in Medical Management from the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris, ESCP (FR), as well as in Biotechnology from the University of Grenoble (FR).
Former Activities and Functions
- President, Microbiology, Thermo Fisher Scientific (2016 – 2019)
- President, BioSciences, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (2013 – 2016)
- President, Pharmaceutical Systems, BD (2009 – 2012)
- Regional and global leadership positions (primarily in Sales and Marketing), BD (2002 – 2009)
Stefan Stoffel
Head, Group Operations (since January 2021) and Member of the Executive Committee (from March 2019 until July 2022)
Stefan Stoffel holds a degree in engineering from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (CH).
Former Activities and Functions
- Head of Lonza Pharma & Biotech Strategic Growth Investments and Ibex® Solutions (2016–2019)
- Head of Lonza Pharma & Biotech Operations (2013–2016)
- General Manager of Lonza Chemical Operations Business Unit (2010–2013)
- Head of Lonza’s Small Molecules Exclusive Synthesis Business Unit (2009–2010)
- Head of Operations for Lonza’s Small Molecules Exclusive Synthesis Business Unit (2007–2009)
- Various positions at Lonza in Engineering & Maintenance, Technical Management, Production and Operations Management for Lonza AG and Lonza Inc. (1991–2007)
Rodolfo J. Savitzky
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Member of the Executive Committee (from October 2016 until November 2021)
Rodolfo J. Savitzky holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Tecnológico de Monterrey (MX) and an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago (USA).
Former Activities and Functions
- Vice-President Controller, Lonza Pharma & Biotech Segment (2015–2016)
- Division CFO, Novartis Animal Health (2011–2015)
- Business Unit Head of Finance, Novartis Animal Health (2006–2011)
- Head of Strategic Planning and Analysis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2004–2005)
- Head of Business Planning and Analysis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2003)
- Head of Finance Ophthalmics Business Unit, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2002)
- Various positions at P&G (1984–2001)
Sven Abend
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Specialty Ingredients Segment (from January 2016 until July 2020) and Member of the Executive Committee (from July 2014 until July 2020)
Sven Abend holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel and a post-doctorate from the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of New York in Stony Brook, NY (USA).
Former Activities and Functions
- CEO of Kolb Ltd in Hedingen (CH) (2012–2014)
- Business Manager for Kolb’s divisions focusing on specialty surfactants and custom manufacturing (2010–2012)
- Several senior positions in Global Product Management and ultimately as Director of Corporate Key Account Management at Cognis GmbH in Germany (2003–2010)
- Project Scientist for the R&D Home & Personal Care business at Unilever in the UK (2000–2003)
Marc Funk
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (from March 2019 until 12 November 2019) and Member of the Executive Committee (from April 2012 until 12 November 2019)
Marc Funk holds a Master of Law from the University of Geneva (CH) and a Master of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School - Tufts University, MA (USA).
Current Activities and Functions
- Member of the Board of Directors of Swiss Polar Foundation (since 2019)
Former Activities and Functions
- Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pharma & Biotech Segment (2014–2019)
- Group General Counsel and Board Secretary Lonza Group Ltd (2009–2014)
- Associate General Counsel of Merck Serono (formerly Serono) (2004–2008)
- Co-CEO and General Counsel of GeneProt (2000–2004)
Fridtjof Helemann
Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) (from 2016 until March 2019) and Member of the Executive Committee (from February 2017 until March 2019)
Fridtjof Helemann holds a degree in engineering from the University of Siegen (DE) and is a Certified Professional Coach from the Coaches Training Institute in California (USA).
Current Activities and Functions
- Mentor at Merryck & Co (since 2019)
- Chairman of GetUp Coaching GmbH (since 2019)
Former Activities and Functions
- Managing Partner and President of Oxford Leadership (2014–2016)
- Partner and CEO Mercer Inc. Central Europe (2011–2014)
- Vice-President and General Manager Central and Eastern Europe at Right Management (2010–2011)
- Corporate Vice-President HR Henkel AG (2003–2009)
- Various HR consulting roles: Partner Hay Group and MD Kienbaum
Richard Ridinger
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Member of the Executive Committee (from May 2012 until February 2019)
Richard Ridinger holds a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Karlsruhe (DE).
Current Activities and Functions
- Member of the Board of Directors of Novo Advisory Group (since 2019)
- Member of the Board of Directors of Firmenich International SA (since 2016)
Former Activities and Functions
- Transfer and integration of Cognis GmbH into BASF (2011)
- Member of the Management Board and Executive Vice-President “Care Chemicals” of Cognis GmbH (2006–2010)
- SBU Head of “Cognis Care Chemicals” and member of the Cognis Executive Committee (2002–2006)
- Vice-President of the global “Care Chemicals Specialties” business of Cognis GmbH (2000–2002)
- Director of the global Skin Care Ingredients business at Henkel KGaA / Cognis GmbH (1999–2000)
- Various positions at Henkel KGaA in R&D, Engineering and Production Management (1986–1999)