Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is responsible for PolyPeptide’s overall direction and oversight of management, and holds the ultimate decision-making authority, with the exception of matters reserved for shareholders.
Peter Wilden
Chairman of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Peter Wilden
Chairman of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Peter Wilden, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group since April 2021 and Executive Chairman since January 2023, is a German citizen born in 1957. Between 2000 and 2017, Mr. Wilden was Executive Vice President and CFO of Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Currently, Mr. Wilden is Executive Chairman of Ferring International Center SA, Saint-Prex (since 2002). He also serves as Vice Chairman of Schlumberger AG, Austria (since 2014), Vice Chairman of Project HOPE in the U.S. (since 2012) and Chairman of Project HOPE Suisse International Foundation (since 2015). Between 2004 and 2014, Mr. Wilden was a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Lonza Group AG, Basel. Mr. Wilden holds a PhD in Economics and an MBA in Industrial Economics, both from the University of Kiel, Germany.
Patrick Aebischer
Vice Chairman, Lead Independent Director of PolyPeptide Group
Patrick Aebischer
Vice Chairman, Lead Independent Director of PolyPeptide Group
Patrick Aebischer, Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director of PolyPeptide Group, is a Swiss citizen born in 1954. Mr. Aebischer is a Professor of Neurosciences at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EFPL), Lausanne. He serves as member of the Board of Directors of Nestlé AG, Cham (since 2015) and Logitech international SA, Apples (since 2016) and is Chairman of the Novartis Venture Fund (since 2014), Amazentis SA, Ecublens (since 2008) and Arctos Medical AG, Bern (since 2019). Mr. Aebischer further serves as senior partner of ND Capital, Fund-III (since 2017). Between 2008 and 2020, Mr. Aebischer served as member of the Board of Directors of Lonza Group AG, Basel. Further, he was founding scientist and member of the Board of Directors of CytoTherapeutics Inc. (between 1989 and 1999) and Modex Therapeutiques Inc. Between 2000 and 2016, he was president of EPFL and between 2004 and 2016, he served as member of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Mr. Aebischer holds a Doctorate degree in Medicine from the University of Geneva as well as four Honorary Doctorates from Universities worldwide.
Beat In-Albon
Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Beat In-Albon
Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Beat In-Albon, Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group, is a Swiss citizen born in 1952. Mr. In-Albon is the Chairman of Escientia Switzerland AG, Muttenz (since 2020) and of Evolva Holding SA, Reinach (since 2020). He further serves as non-executive Board member of Deccan Fine Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (India) (since 2019). From 2016 to 2018, Mr. In-Albon was Head of Strategic Projects at Lonza Group AG, Basel on a part-time basis, after having served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Specialty Ingredients and member of the Executive Management Committee from 2012 until 2015. Previously at Lonza, he held various positions starting 1983, including the role as Head of Organic Fine- & Performance Chemicals and member of the Executive Management Committee at Lonza Group AG between 2003 and 2006. Between 2007 and 2012, Mr. In-Albon served in different positions at SGS SA, Geneva, including as member of the Operations Council. Between 2009 and 2012 he served as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors of Siegfried AG, Zofingen. Mr. In-Albon holds a PhD in Economic Science from the University of Fribourg and a Master of Business Administration in Political Economy from the University of Fribourg.
Jane Salik
Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Jane Salik
Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Jane Salik, Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group, is U.S. citizen born in 1953. Prior to her election, she served on the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Laboratories Holding B.V. since 2003. She joined Polypeptide in 1996 as President of PolyPeptide Laboratories Inc., where she was responsible for Sales and Marketing, and overall Management, Administration and Strategic Planning for the company. In 2006, she was appointed CEO of the PolyPeptide group. Before her tenure at Polypeptide, Ms. Salik worked for Bachem California as Vice President of Sales and Marketing (between 1986-1996). Prior to that, she served as technical services biochemist, Product Manager and Marketing Manager at Boehringer Mannheim (Indianapolis) starting 1980. Ms. Salik holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA (1980) and a B.A. in Biology from Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA (1975).
Erik Schropp
Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Erik Schropp
Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Erik Schropp, Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group, is a Dutch citizen born in 1964. Mr. Schropp has served as member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Laboratories Holding B.V. since 2017. Currently, he is CEO of C&P Investors Limited and a director of Draupnir Holding B.V., The Netherlands. Previously, Mr. Schropp held various finance functions in the pharmaceutical industry. Further, Mr. Schropp serves as member of the Board of Directors of various privately held companies engaged in the fields of life sciences, gene therapy and venture capital investment. Mr. Schropp holds a Master’s degree in Economics & Tax from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Philippe A. Weber
Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Philippe A. Weber
Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group
Philippe A. Weber, Independent Member of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group, is a Swiss citizen born in 1965. Mr. Weber is a member of the Board of Directors of Niederer Kraft Frey AG, Zurich (since 2008) and has been a Partner since 2002. He further serves as Company Secretary of CLS Group Holdings AG, Lucerne (since 2002) and as a Non-Executive Director of EDAG Engineering Group AG, Arbon (since 2015). Mr. Weber is the Vice Chairman of Leonteq AG, Zurich (since 2020). He is further a member of the Board of Directors of Medacta Group AG, Castel San Pietro (since 2019), Newron Suisse SA, Zurich (since 2007), NorthStar Holding AG, Roggwil (since 2018), and of Banca del Ceresio SA, Lugano (since 2017). Between 2004 and 2017, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Robert Aebi AG, Regensdorf. Mr. Weber holds a PhD in law from the University of Zurich and an LL.M. from the European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy.
Executive Committee
The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility and authority necessary or appropriate to carry out the day-to-day and
operational activities of PolyPeptide to the Executive Committee under the leadership of the CEO.
Peter Wilden Executive Chairman
Peter Wilden Executive Chairman
Peter Wilden, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PolyPeptide Group since April 2021 and Executive Chairman since January 2023, is a German citizen born in 1957. Between 2000 and 2017, Mr. Wilden was Executive Vice President and CFO of Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Currently, Mr. Wilden is Executive Chairman of Ferring International Center SA, Saint-Prex (since 2002). He also serves as Vice Chairman of Schlumberger AG, Austria (since 2014), Vice Chairman of Project HOPE in the U.S. (since 2012) and Chairman of Project HOPE Suisse International Foundation (since 2015). Between 2004 and 2014, Mr. Wilden was a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Lonza Group AG, Basel. Mr. Wilden holds a PhD in Economics and an MBA in Industrial Economics, both from the University of Kiel, Germany.
Neil Thompson
Director Global Sales and Marketing and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Neil Thompson
Director Global Sales and Marketing and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Neil Thompson, Director Global Sales and Marketing and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group, is a British citizen born in 1972. Mr. Thompson joined PolyPeptide Group in 2004 and has held various sales and business development roles, most recently, since 2019, as Group Commercial Director. Before that, he served as Director Business Development Europe (2015 – 2019), Associate Director Business Development Europe (2010 – 2015), Business Manager Custom Development (2006 – 2010) and Regional Sales Manager (2004 – 2005). Before joining PolyPeptide, Mr. Thompson worked served as Assistant Production Manager / Peptide Product Manager at Bachem (1999 – 2003) and in various roles rising to Assistant Production Manager at Peninsula Laboratories Europe Ltd (1988 – 1999). Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry from Liverpool John Moores University.
Christina Del Vecchio
General Counsel and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Christina Del Vecchio
General Counsel and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Christina Del Vecchio, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group, is a Swiss and Swedish citizen born in 1978. She joined PolyPeptide Group on 1 September 2021 from Niederer Kraft Frey AG, a leading Swiss law firm based in Zurich, which she joined in 2013, becoming counsel in 2018. Prior to joining Niederer Kraft Frey AG, she was an associate at Latham & Watkins LLP in their London office. Over the course of her career, Christina has advised numerous Swiss and international companies on a wide range of commercial and financing transactions, securities laws, governance, compliance and other legal matters. Christina Del Vecchio was born and raised in the US, she graduated from Columbia Law School in 2008, where she was recognized as a James Kent Scholar, and summa cum laude from the University of Florida in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts.
Jan Fuhr Miller
Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Jan Fuhr Miller
Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Jan Fuhr Miller, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group, is a Danish citizen born in 1970. Mr. Miller joined PolyPeptide Group as CFO in 2015 from CMC Biologics A/S (Copenhagen), an independent biologics contract manufacturing organization, where he served as Vice President, Finance. Prior to that, Mr. Miller served as Nordic Financial Leader at Honeywell A/S from 2012 to 2013. Between 2000 and 2011 he served as Director, Finance & Logistics, Director, Finance & Business Administration, Senior Manager, Business Information & Technology, Manager, Marketing Research and Manager, Business Operations at H. Lundbeck A/S. He started his career in 1998 at Colgate-Palmolive. Mr. Miller holds a Master of Science from the University of Aarhus, School of Management, Denmark and an MBA with concentration in Finance from the Keller Graduate School of Management, Illinois.
Jens Fricke
Director Global Operations and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Jens Fricke
Director Global Operations and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group
Jens Fricke, Director Global Operations and Member of the Executive Committee of PolyPeptide Group, is a Danish citizen born in 1965. Mr. Fricke joined PolyPeptide Group as General Director Scandinavia in 2013 and was appointed Director Global Operations in December 2022. Prior to that, he served as Director API Production (2008 – 2013) in LEO Pharma and in leading positions with increasing responsibilities in Aseptic Production and API Production at ALK Abello (1998 – 2008). He started his career as Chemist at Novo Nordisk/Hema Sure (1995 – 1998). Mr. Fricke holds a Master of Sciences in Biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen.
PolyPeptide Management Committee
The Executive Committee is further supported by additional members of senior management with deep industry experience who, together with members of the Executive Committee, form the PolyPeptide Management Committee.
Jon Holbech Rasmussen
Director Global Development, IP and Regulatory
Jon Holbech Rasmussen
Director Global Development, IP and Regulatory
Jon Holbech Rasmussen, Ph.D., Director Global Development is a Danish citizen born in 1970. Dr. Rasmussen first joined PolyPeptide Group in 1999 and has held various roles within process development, project and development management and operations management. He started his current role as Director Global Development in 2013. Before that, he served as Director Technical Operations, PolyPeptide Scandinavia (2008-2013), Director of Development, PolyPeptide Scandinavia (2006-2008), Head of Development, PolyPeptide Scandinavia (2004-2006), Manager Custom Projects Department, PolyPeptide Laboratories A/S Denmark (2003-2004). Prior to that, he worked in various Project Manager and Chemist roles. Dr. Rasmussen holds a Ph.D. degree from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) within synthetic organic chemistry and a Masters degree in chemical engineering from the same institution. His studies included a tenure at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy as well as a Post Doc position at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Monika Casanova
Chief Human Resources Officer
Monika Casanova
Chief Human Resources Officer
Monika Casanova, Chief Human Resources Officer of PolyPeptide Group, is a German citizen born in 1979. Mrs. Casanova joined PolyPeptide Group in May 2022 and is a seasoned HR leader with extensive experience across the full range of HR disciplines in corporate, international, and local settings. Prior to that, she headed Global HR at Duravit AG, a leader in building materials with over 6,000 employees (2017 – 2022), and International HR at Paul Hartmann AG, medical devices (2015 – 2017). She started her career in the pharmaceutical industry (2003 – 2014) at ALTANA Pharma, acquired by Nycomed, subsequently acquired by Takeda, in various roles rising to Head of HR with responsibility for their headquarters in Zurich and the international centres of expertise. Mrs. Casanova holds a Diploma in Languages and Business Administration from University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany, and a DUETI in Techniques de Commercialisation from Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, France.
Olivier Ludemann-Hombourger
Director Global Innovation and Technology
Olivier Ludemann-Hombourger
Director Global Innovation and Technology
Olivier Ludemann-Hombourger, Director Global Innovation & Technology and Member of the Management Committee of PolyPeptide Group, is a French citizen born in 1972. Mr Ludemann-Hombourger joined PolyPeptide Group in 2012 as General Manager of PolyPeptide Laboratories France (2012-2019). Before joining PolyPeptide, Mr Ludemann-Hombourger worked as Head of Operations / Head of Manufacturing (2009-2012) at Lonza, Braine in Belgium and was member of the Peptide Business Team of Lonza Group. He served as multi-sites R&D Manager/Director at Novasep Process (2001-2009), where he started in 1999 as R&D Engineer. He started his career in 1995 as R&D engineer at Merck KGaA in Germany. Mr Ludemann-Hombourger holds a Master of Sciences (ENSIC process engineering school, Nancy France) and a PhD from Institut Polytechnique de Lorrance (Nancy, France).
Michael Stäheli
Head Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Michael Stäheli
Head Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Michael Stäheli, Head Investor Relations and Corporate Communications and Member of the PolyPeptide Management Committee, is citizen of Switzerland, born in 1965. He joined PolyPeptide Group in April 2021 from Conzzeta, where he assumed a similar responsibility since 2015. From 2004 to 2014 he was with the investor relations team of Credit Suisse with responsibilities including integrated reporting and stakeholder engagement. Before that, he worked in various financial and communications roles, including as financial editor of Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Mr Stäheli is a Board member of the Swiss IR Club and holds a Swiss federal diploma as chartered expert in financial and managerial accounting and reporting. He graduated in 1992 from the University of St. Gallen as an economist (Lic. Oec. HSG).
Landon Piluso
Director Global Quality
Landon Piluso
Director Global Quality
Landon Piluso is a member of the PolyPeptide Management Committee and an American citizen born in 1972. Based in Torrance, USA, Landon is currently the Global Director of Quality for PolyPeptide, responsible for the Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Analytical Development functions worldwide. Dr. Piluso joined PolyPeptide in 2020 as Global Director, QA. Prior to joining PolyPeptide he has held senior QA, QC, and Operations leadership positions in small- and large-molecule pharmaceutical organizations and in medical device organizations, with increasing responsibility. Landon holds a Doctorate in Protein Biochemistry, a Master of Science in Virus Biology, and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology.