Executive committee
The Executive Committee is made up of eight members from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds from Germany, India, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and England. Find out more about each member in the biographies below.
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Appointed: 2024
Nationality: British
Martin joined Axplora as the CEO on the 9th of April 2024. Martin brings a deep passion for this sector, the patients that we serve and the partnerships we create. With over two decades of experience in managing and growing businesses globally, Martin eagerly anticipates bringing this expertise to the Axplora group.
In his last role as CEO at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a leading CDMO partner to the industry, he spent several successful years in the United States. During his tenure there, he held diverse leadership roles across multiple modalities, driving significant business growth and accelerating the commercialization of medicines.
Martin, who took over as CEO at the start of the pandemic, successfully steered the business through this turbulent time, supporting the development of numerous treatments and vaccines.
He built his business foundation in manufacturing of fine chemicals and qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG.
In his spare time, Martin loves to spend time with his family. He enjoys reading, travel, and motorsports.
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Appointed: 2020
Nationality: German
Edgar is CFO of Axplora. He joined the company in 2000. He has +25 years experience as a CFO for different companies including Rodenstock Group (optical lenses), Müller Group (dairy), and Lekkerland (wholesale). He started his career as Consultant at McKinsey & Company in Munich, Buenos Aires, in 1992. Throughout his career, he has held several Board seats, including stock listed companies.
At Axplora, Edgar’s area of responsibility is Finance and IT, as well as Controlling, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Legal and IT. His vision is to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and visibility of Finance and IT by establishing these functions as true business partners for Axplora’s Business Units.
Edgar holds a Master’s degree in industrial engineering from the Technical University of Karlsruhe and a PhD degree in Economics.
Edgar lives in Munich. He is passionate about sport (running, golf, skiing) and enjoys spending time with his family, especially since his three grown-up children live in different cities and countries. Travelling and living abroad (e.g. Argentina) has been very important to him, though visiting Southern France or the North Sea during low season remains a favorite spot.
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Appointed: 2023
Nationality: Spanish and Canadian
Pere joined Axplora on March 1st, 2023, as COO. As a chemist, he started his professional life in the fine chemical sector in Spain, dealing with innovative and complex projects. Prior to his most recent role as Chief Quality & Technical Operations Officer at Centrient, Pere worked with Boehringer Ingelheim and Apotex, where he was President for Global API and Executive Vice President for Global API & Procurement.
During his tenure spanning three decades, he has gained valuable experience in the API industry among others and has successfully led global operations efforts for major API industry players. Pere brings extensive international experience in technical operations and quality with a strong track record of successfully leading significant improvement and transformation programs.
Pere is an alumnus of the University of Barcelona in Spain, from which he holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry and a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering. He holds an MBA from the ESADE Business School in Spain.
Pere is fluent in English, Spanish and Catalan, with some notions of German and French. Pere likes to travel and playing golf.
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Appointed: 2022
Nationality: German and British
Arul joined Axplora as CCO on July 18, 2022. Based in Raubling (Germany), Arul oversees the Global Marketing Strategy and Business Intelligence and has a global role bringing together the BU Marketing organizations to foster our business impact in close relations with the BU Presidents and the sales teams.
A Chartered Chemical Engineer from the UK with an MBA from INSEAD, Arul has a 25-year business career as a General Manager, Executive Coach and Commercial Negotiator. He led Commercial (Marketing & Sales) and Operational (Technical Operations & Supply Chain) organizations at Novartis, Baxalta & Shire in several countries and has also served as CEO of a Swiss Biologics CDMO. Most recently, he has been supporting a major German pharma company set up a global rare dermatology business.
Arul likes to practice his six languages at our sites, while indulging in a conversation or two about the local region and sports, many of which he follows. Outside of work, he is an avid skier and hiker with his family.
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Appointed: 2023
Nationality: German
Stephan joined Axplora in November 2023. He has a 20+ years’ business career in the pharmaceutical industry where he held various management positions within global CDMOs such as Solvias, Lonza and Cambrex. Most recently, Stephan worked as President of Drug Substance CDMO Commercialat Cambrex.
Stephan works closely with Operations to build the organization and drive its growth as a leading CDMO.
Stephan’s vision is based on three pillars: customer service, technological expertise, and manufacturing excellence. He wants to make Novasep CDMO BU recognized a CDMO leader providing the best customer service and manufacturing excellence, based on both a broad set of differentiating technologies, and on the scientific expertise of people.
Stephan’s core mission is to make Axplora a partner of choice for pharmaceutical companies, supporting them to bring medication to patients.
Stephan holds a PhD and Master in organic chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in economics.
He likes hiking in the Black Forest and going to the opera.
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Appointed: 2014
Nationality: Italian
Mario is both the Managing Director of Axplora’s site in Italy and President of the Steroids & Highly Potent Products Business Unit. He has been with Axplora since 2014. Before that, he held various positions at Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici S.p.A, for eight years where he started as Engineering Manager and ended up as Site Director. From there, he worked as a plant operations manager at Erregierre S.p.A for six years, an active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer for both human and veterinary use. Mario has +20 years of industry experience in APIs.
Mario believes that the enthusiasm and passion that he sees across Axplora will ensure brilliant results over the coming years.
Mario holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering from the University of Bologna with a speciality in Economics.
Mario likes walking in the woods in his spare time, especially in the mountains.
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Appointed: 2007
Nationality: Indian
Anant is the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer in India as well as being Co-President of the Specialty Products BU at Axplora. He joined the Group in 2007 as Managing Director. He is based in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Previously, Anant was Senior Director at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company based in India, for five years. He started his career at Gharda Chemicals in 1990 where he spent 12 years as Senior project manager. Anant has strong experience in the pharmaceutical industry with recognized skills in operational excellence, process optimization, engineering, and R&D.
Anant is a chemical engineer from Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (India) & TQM certified from OSAKA university, Japan.
Anant is passionate about building a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team who are comfortable with managing multidimensional challenges. Anant loves to share his technical experience and expertise with younger team members. Anant has a personal interest in Environment, Social and Governance issues (ESG) and spends his own time researching and understanding this important topic. In addition, Anant loves to read and write and enjoys public speaking.
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Appointed: 2017
Nationality: Swiss
Stephan joined Axplora in 2017. He lives in Basel, Switzerland. He started in the company as Head of Marketing & Sales for five years before taking over his current position of Specialty Products BU President in 2022.
He started his career in 1997 at Lonza as an International Product Manager. He also worked at DePuy Synthes for three years, the Orthopedics Company of Johnson & Johnson, and at Siegfried, as a Drug substance portfolio Manager and Head of Drug substances EMEA & Asia for eight years. He has +25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and live science industry.
Stephan received a Bachelor in Business from HEC Lausanne University. He is skilled in portfolio management, investment activities, new business development, M&A and change management.
Stephan likes to spend time with his family. He has two teenage daughters and is grateful that they are not sick of their dad yet. He is an avid reader, follows the politics closely and is a former town councillor in his hometown. He enjoys ski-touring.