About us | Swixx BioPharma | Modern Medicines for All

Leadership Teams

Swixx was founded by a group of experienced pharma professionals with a deep understanding of biopharma’s needs. Prior to building Swixx BioPharma in CEE, Swixx’s founders and members of its senior team had comprehensive experience in research-based companies operating across all current Swixx geographies.

Swixx’s biggest asset is our 1,600+ highly educated employees, who are dedicated to providing modern medicines to patients in need, in any market and continent where we operate.

• Swixx Board
  Petr Němec

  Founder, Strategy

  Co-Founder PharmaSwiss, formerly GM BMS South East Europe. Previously Sr. Executive Convatec CEE & Lawyer at White & Case

  Stuart Swanson

  Chairman, Founder, Head of Corporate Development

  Co-Founder PharmaSwiss, formerly Head of Marketing at BMS CEE/Israel, GM Pfizer Russia and US Diplomat

  Barbara Košir

  NED, Board Member, Ethics & Compliance Committee Chair and Audit Committee Chair

  Formerly CFO of PharmaSwiss, prior to that held a series of key Finance positions at Coca Cola, IBM and AGIP

  Matthias Fehr, PhD

  Board Member and Member Audit Committee

  Member of Management and Head Private Equity at HBM Partners. Over twenty years of experience in private and public equity investment management and research. Former experience includes senior analyst at Lombard Odier and scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. In addition to Swixx, Board member of Sphingotec, Numab, Farmalatam and Board Observer Tata 1mg.

  Benoit Chastaing

  Board Member

  25 years’ experience in M&A transactions and Investment area including operational experiences.10 years of successful private equity investment in the healthcare sector, two main experiences as Manager/Investor under LBO. Former various position at Medipole Partnaires (Elsan) and Senior Healthcare Partner at Gimv

  Alexander Asam

  Board Observer

  More than 20 years’ experience in the life sciences and private equity business. Formerly various positions at Hoechst, Aventis and Deutsche Bank

  Marie-Justine Lecomte

  Board Observer

  6+ years’ experience in Private Equity and M&A specialized in healthcare transactions. Former position in investment at Gimv

  Pascal Forget

  Board Observer and Executive Regional General Manager Latam

  Founder of Laboratories Biopas with 35+ years of experience in the pharma industry, from Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, Grupo Farma and Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR), now Sanofi, in Europe, Intercontinental and Latin America regions.
• Executive Management Team
  Jean-Michel Lespinasse

  CEO

  Worked 6 years as COO of A&D’s Marketing & Sales Division. Was as COO at Delta Medical, and before that was GM BMS Russia.

  Petr Pípal

  CFO

  Worked 3 years as CFO of PharmaSwiss and 10 years in senior finance functions in BMS, Member of the Board in Farma-Projekt Poland.

  Gabriela Zelenková

  General Counsel and Company Secretary

  Previously BMS Vice-President and Ass. General Counsel, Head of Intercontinental R/C Law Department responsible for 65 markets including CEE, Middle East, Africa and India; China, Pacific Rim, Brazil, Latin America; Before that, BMS Vice-President and Ass. General Counsel, Head of R/C Law department Europe supporting all European countries and Distributor Markets of Europe.

  Dezső Mártha, MD

  Chief Operating Officer CEE&Greece, Head of Alliance Management

  Head of Celgene CEE until June 2019, prior to that GM BMS Hungary and BMS CEE Indirect Markets (Balkans + Slovakia + Baltics + Malta + Iceland)

  Marek Vasicek, MD

  Chief Operating Officer Russia/ Eurasia and R.O.W. (Rest of World) Expansion

  Joins from May 2023 from Bristol Myers Squibb, from the position of Transition Lead CEE and Interim General Manager Australia. Previous experience includes almost 23 years at BMS as GM Russia for 5 years, as well as various senior commercial roles, and 6 years in Novartis.

  Laur Saar, MD

  Corporate Medical Director, Regulatory & PV

  Until May 2015 Medical Director of Valeant / Pharma Swiss Europe since 2006. Prior to that Regional Medical BMS Baltics.

  Marcela Laššáková

  Chief Compliance Officer

  Until July 2016 Director Compliance and Internal Controls Valeant /PharmaSwiss EMEA since 2009. Prior to that Business Control Function Manager BMS Austria & Central Europe.

  Tomáš Černik

  Chief of Staff to CEO and Special Projects Lead

  Formerly Country Manager of Bristol-Myers Squibb, responsible for Austria, before that for Czech Republic and Hungary. Prior to this held various commercial and finance positions at BMS in different Central European countries

  Vedrana Sokač Brataljenović

  Public Affairs Director

  Head of Corporate Affairs South Europe in Sanofi, until December 2021. Previous positions include regional and local roles in Market Access, Marketing and Sales in Sanofi.

  Ivan Pertot

  Business Development Director

  Previously Head of Regulatory Department for non-EU Balkan countries at PharmaSwiss, prior to that Regulatory Affairs Director (2009-2013) and Regulatory Affairs Manager (2007-2009) at PharmaSwiss Serbia and Regulatory Affairs Officer at Schering Plough Serbia.
• Management – Swixx General Managers

  Central and Eastern Europe – EU countries

  Martina Bergant

  General Manager Slovenia

  Formerly CFO Sanofi for South, East & Central Europe. In pharmaceutical business since 2002, holding different managerial positions covering Slovenia as well as CEE.

  George Bithas

  General Manager Greece, Cyprus and Malta

  More than 20 years experience in pharma industry, holding a series of roles with increasing responsibility in hospital devices, medical nutrition and specialty care in Abbott & AbbVie for Greece and Cyprus. Most recently served as Business Unit Director Immunology.

  Petr Čapek, MD

  General Manager Czech Republic

  Worked 5 years as GM PharmaSwiss Czech, previously GM Amgen CZ&SK and prior to that worked in various positions at BMS (BUH Oncology/Hospital products & Medical Director) since 1995.

  Davor Kovačević

  General Manager Croatia

  In Pharma industry as of 2002. Formerly Country manager for Croatia and Slovenia in Celgene. Prior to that held various positions in Alpe-Adria region such as Business unit head, Market access head, Marketing and Sales management in rare diseases, hospital, primary care and OTC area.

  Gergely Kovács

  General Manager Hungary

  Eight years of pharma sales & marketing experience as BUD for Pfizer and Krka Hungary. Prior to that, 16 years in different finance/consulting roles including Finance Director for Pfizer Hungary and GM/FD for Tele2.

  Alexander Marinov, MD

  General Manager Bulgaria

  Before joining Swixx Biopharma served as GM A&D Pharma Marketing and Sales Bulgaria for the last 7 years. Prior to that, BUH Hospital and Specialized products within A&D Pharma Bulgaria. Previously held various positions in BMS (BUH Oncology/Hospital products & Medical Director Bulgaria & Romania) since 1996.

  Georgiana Levivier

  General Manager Romania & Moldova

  Formerly Country Manager in Boston Scientific. Over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry, including various positions in innovative companies (Takeda, Novartis Amgen, MSD and Schering Plough).

  Gabriela Markovová

  General Manager Slovakia

  Former Managing Director at A&D Pharma Marketing & Sales in Slovakia. In the past, BUM onco/orphan, Market Access and Marketing manager onco/orphan at Roche, Celgene and Takeda.

  Michal Opuchlik, MD

  General Manager Poland

  Formerly Country Manager Alexion Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Romania and Bulgaria. Prior to that held position of Area General Manager for Poland, Baltic Countries and Russia in AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals.

  Piret Tuul

  Regional Baltic General Manager Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia

  Formerly General Manager Baltics in Takeda. Previous experience in various commercial positions with increasing responsibilities and geographical scope from Schering-Plough, Roche and Novartis.

  Central and Eastern Europe – non-EU countries

  Predrag Lukić, MPharm

  General Manager Serbia, Regional Director for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia

  Formerly GM PharmaSwiss Serbia. Prior to that held series of BUH and marketing / sales positions in PharmaSwiss Serbia.

  Bledar Shorri

  General Manager Albania and Kosovo

  Formerly Public Affairs and Market Access Head Albania and Kosovo in Sanofi and Country Chair Albania. Prior experience includes the position of General Manager Albania and various roles in Sales and Marketing in Sanofi.

  Žaklina Pop-Simonova, MD

  General Manager North Macedonia

  Formerly GM PharmaSwiss /Valeant Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania (2012-2016). Prior to that GM PharmaSwiss Macedonia & Kosovo (2005-2012), GM Macedonia PharmaSwiss (2000-2005), GM BMS Macedonia (1996-2000). Started in early 1993 as Ostomy and Wound Care Manager for ConvaTec/BMS.

  Ivana Prelević

  General Manager Montenegro

  Previously GM PharmaSwiss Montenegro 2003-2014 and prior to that GM Pfizer Montenegro.

  Kenan Selmanović

  General Manager Bosnia & Herzegovina

  Formerly GM PharmaSwiss/Valeant BiH (2011-2018). Prior to that leading Schering Plough BiH (2008-2011), held series roles in GSK (2004-2008)

  Russia and Eurasia

  Pavel Chistyakov

  General Manager Russia and Regional Director Eurasia

  23+ experience in pharma at executive positions, former General Manager of Ipsen in Russia and CIS (9Y), Pierre Fabre General manager Russia (7Y), Sanofi Trade and Revenue head Russia and EurAsia (5Y) and before joining Swixx Biopharma was Commercial VP for Greece, Russia and Turkey in Italpharmaco.

  Nozimkhon Alyavi

  Country Manager Uzbekistan

  20+ years of experience in managing business of Schering AG and Bayer Pharma AG in Uzbekistan as well as of establishing business operations in local pharma distributor.

  Vladimir Dumler

  Country Manager Belarus

  Formerly Head of Representative office and GenMed business in Sanofi Belarus. Almost 20 years of experience in commercial roles, with growing managerial scope.

  Askar Talipov

  Country Manager Kazakhstan

  Formerly Trade & Revenue Director for Central Asia, Caucasus and Belarus in Sanofi. Previous roles include various Supply Chain and Commercial functions with progressively increasing responsibilities.

  Middle East and North Africa – MENA

  Manar Al Nahar

  Regional General Manager, MENA

  25 years’ experience in multiple geographies across MEA, Greece and Russia on leadership positions from AstraZeneca/Alexion, Sanofi and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Manar joins Swixx from the position of Area Director Emerging Market MEA, Russia and Eurasia (Alexion) and Rare Disease Commercial Director MEA (AstraZeneca).

  Latin America

  Pascal Forget

  Board Observer and Executive Regional General Manager Latam

  Founder of Laboratories Biopas with 35+ years of experience in the pharma industry, from Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, Grupo Farma and Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR), now Sanofi, in Europe, Intercontinental and Latin America regions.
• Alliance Management
  Zvonimir Dürrigl, VMD

  Alliance and Commercial Director

  20+ experience in Pharma, formerly Global Go-To-Market Transformation Operations Lead in Sanofi. Previous positions include General Manager GenMed Business Unit Southeast and Central Europe, Sanofi, and other local, regional and global positions in Sales, Marketing, Market Access and Organizational effectiveness in Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Pliva/Teva.

  Nermina Ćolić, MD, MBA

  HQ Hemato-Onco team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

  Formerly Head of Immunology Central and South Europe, Sanofi. Experience includes various positions in Marketing, Medical affairs, Business Unit Director position with gradual expansion of geographic scope in Sanofi and Schering Plough.

  Svetla Mihalevska, MD

  HQ Hemato-Onco team / Medical Lead Hematology

  20+ years’ experience in Medical Affairs, including supervision in Clinical trials, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and Quality on country and Medical affairs regional level from Sanofi. Joined Swixx from the position of Medical Lead Oncology Lung & Gastrointestinal cancer, Balkans, AstraZeneca.

  Georgi Ignatovski, MD

  HQ Hemato-Onco and Vaccines team / Medical Lead Oncology & Vaccines

  Formerly Cardiovascular Medical Lead for Southeast and Central Europe Sanofi. Previously held various regional and country Medical and Commercial roles in Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim. Served as General manager of Bulgarian enterprise manufacturing producing vaccines and biological products.

  Irena Hampel Hršak, MD

  HQ Rare disease team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

  20+ years of experience in pharma and biotech. Formerly Value, Access and Policy Senior Manager in Amgen. Previously held various Commercial and Marketing positions in PharmaSwixx, including Business Unit Head and Sales and Marketing Director, with increasing P&L responsibilities.

  Vukašin Andrić, MD

  HQ Rare disease team / Medical Lead

  Formerly Medical Head Sanofi Genzyme Southeast and Central Europe and Country Medical Chair. 20+ years’ experience from various Regional and Country level Medical, Sales and Marketing roles from Sanofi, Janssen-Cilag and MSD.

  Dubravka Mandić, MD, PhD

  HQ Specialty Care team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

  Formerly Commercial Head, Southeast & Central Europe. More than 20 years of experience from Sanofi, including various positions in both Marketing and Sales. Proven results in leading and developing teams. Increased responsibility in terms of geography, organization size and the turnover over the time.

  Jana Pavlin, BScPharm

  HQ Specialty Care team / Medical Lead

  Formerly CV/EP Medical Manager Croatia/Slovenia and South Europe, Country Medical Chair in Sanofi. Brings cross-functional above 20 years’ experience from various regional and country level Medical, Marketing, and Sales roles.

  Karel Torner, BScPharm

  HQ Vaccines team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

  Previous position was General Manager Sanofi Pasteur Czech Republic and Slovakia. Held various roles in Commercial, Business Development and Business support with experience leading and developing people and almost a decade long experience in Country P&L Management.

  Renata Hrupelj

  Digital Engagement Lead

  Formerly Head of Customer Engagement team South Europe at Sanofi. Previously held Lead digital positions outside Pharma industry in L'Oreal as HUB Digital Manager Adria – Balkan, and Digital group manager in Heineken Group, implementing novel ways of marketing.

  Michal Matousek

  HQ Market Access Lead

  Formerly CEE Commercial Lead in Kyowa Kirin. Previously held various leadership roles with increasing responsibility and geographic scope in global pharma companies e.g. Astellas, Takeda, Shire, Baxter and Novartis.

  Vedran Čoporda, BSc Medical biochemistry

  Business Excellence Lead

  Formerly Business Excellence Manager for Southeast Central Europe in Sanofi. Held various positions in Sales, Commercial and Trade management, with preference for Business Operations, Sales Force excellence and product launches.
• Corporate Functions
  Jelica Čubrić

  Corporate Quality Director

  Formerly QA Associate Director at Valeant Serbia. Previously held series of Quality/Compliance roles at Donau Labs & Coca Cola.

  Darko Popović

  Corporate IT Director

  Formerly IT Manager for Alpe Adria region in Xella, and prior that, Corporate IT Director in PharmaSwiss, with 25 years of experience in both technical and management areas of IT.

  Dagmar Stefanova, MD

  Medical operations Head Europe

  Formerly Country Medical Lead Biogen Slovakia. Previously held Medical Manager position in Roche, and different commercial roles in Ratiopharm and Schering-Plough.

  Eva Kolatsk

  Corporate Pharmacovigilance Head

  Previous experience in BMS as Associate Director of International Business Process and various Pharmacovigilance positions in the EU countries.

  Natalia Golovchenko

  Patient Advocacy Lead

  20+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Previously at managerial position in A&D Pharma and various positions in BMS.

  Michal Koutny

  Executive Director Finance

  Joins Swixx BioPharma from Ipsen where he held positions of Finance Director Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Head of Finance of International Clusters/China, and Head of Finance Europe. Prior to Ipsen, Michal worked for 14 years in BMS on various positions with increasing geographical responsibilities.

  Tina Puhalo

  Head of Communications

  Public relations and communications professional with over 25 years of experience working with multinational companies from pharmaceutical and FMCG industries, public sector and sports industry, including Roche and GSK.