Executive committee

Sobis' Executive committee is composed of leaders with broad experience and deep knowledge of the life science sector. Together, they are responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations and for driving our strategy forward in line with our mission and values.

Click the arrow next to each name to learn more about their background and experience.

Guido Oelkers

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer; employed since 2017.

Born 1965; German national.

Education: PhD in strategic management, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Master of Economics, South Bank University, London, UK. Complementary studies in economics, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

Other assignments: Chairman and member of the advisory board of Abra MidCo SARL. Member of the Advisory Committee of Zentiva Group. Industrial advisor at EQT.

Prior experience: CEO of BSN Medical. President & CEO of Gambro. EVP Commercial Operations at Nycomed. CEO of Invida. Global Head of Healthcare at DKSH. Managerial roles at Aventis and preceding entities. Board member of Meda and Sartorius AG.

Shares in Sobi: 607,795.

Henrik Stenqvist

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer; employed since 2018.

Born 1967; Swedish national.

Education: Master of Science in business administration and economics, University of Linköping, Sweden.

Other assignments: Board member of Orion Corporation.

Prior experience: CFO of Recipharm. CFO of Meda. Regional Finance Director at AstraZeneca. Finance Director at Astra Export & Trading. Board member of MedCap, Midsona AB, and Calliditas Therapeutics AB.

Shares in Sobi: 95,824.

Lydia Abad-Franch

Chief Medical Officer, Head of R&D and Medical Affairs

Chief Medical Officer, Head of R&D and Medical Affairs; employed since 2020.

Born 1971; Spanish nationality.

Education: Graduate in medicine and surgery (medical doctor), School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain. Family physician board certification. Residence at University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia (Spain). PhD courses and recognition of research aptitude test Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain. MBA at University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain.

Prior experience: Sr Medical Director Global Medical Affairs, Shire/Takeda. Medical Director Global Medical Affairs, Shire/Baxalta. Associate Medical Director, Baxter EMEA. Global Medical Advisor Haemophilia, Novo Nordisk. Clinical investigator at the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Unit – Congenital Bleeding Disorders Unit, University Hospital La Fe, Spain. Investigator at the Clinical Research Unit, Rheumatology Section, University Hospital Dr. Peset, Spain.

Shares in Sobi: 18,217.

Duane H. Barnes

Head of North America

Head of North America; employed since 2021.

Born 1960; American national.

Education: Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Indiana, US. Bachelor of Arts, West Virginia University, West Virginia, US. Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia, US.

Prior experience: Board member of Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC). President and Head of US Operations at UCB. Vice President & General Manager, Value, Access, Reimbursement and Patient Experience at Amgen. Chief Operating Officer at Prime Therapeutics. Division President, Head of Pharmacy at Aetna Healthcare.

Shares in Sobi: 32,721.

Lena Bjurner

Head of Human Resources

Head of Human Resources; employed since 2023.

Born 1968; Swedish national.

Education: Bachelor of Social Science degree, major in Business administration, Dalarna University, Sweden.

Prior experience: Secretary general of the Swedish HR association. Senior Vice President HR and Sustainability at Scandic Hotel Group. VP HR Europe Flexible markets and France at American Express.

Shares in Sobi: 0

Sofiane Fahmy

Head of Europe

Head of Europe; employed since 2013.

Born 1972; French national.

Education: Degree in marketing, University of Paris XI, France. Degree in pharmacy, University of Poitiers, France.

Prior experience: General Manager Sobi France and North Africa. Managerial roles at Pfizer. Commercial roles at GSK. Brand Manager Hospital Products at Roche.

Shares in Sobi: 63,047.

Torbjörn Hallberg

General Counsel & Head of Legal Affairs

General Counsel and Head of Legal Affairs; employed since 2018.

Born 1969; Swedish national.

Education: Master of Law, University of Lund, Sweden.

Prior experience: Vice President, General Counsel, Emerging Markets at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Corporate Counsel at Nycomed Pharma. Corporate Counsel at Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Senior Associate/Lawyer at Advokatfirman Lindahl.

Shares in Sobi: 65,309.

Mahmood Ladha

Head of Strategic transformation operations

Head of Strategic transformation operations; employed since 2019.

Born 1964; American national.

Education: Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science, University of South Carolina, SC, US.

Prior experience: Head of Business Development and Alliance Management, Sobi. President and Head of Dova Pharmaceuticals. Senior Advisor to the CEO, VP and Head of Transactions at AstraZeneca. Executive Director and Head of US Respiratory at AstraZeneca.

Shares in Sobi: 28,769.

Norbert Oppitz

Head of International

Head of International; employed since 2017.

Born 1967; Austrian national.

Education: Dipl. BW (FH)/Business Administrator, FH Rhenania Palatina, Mainz, Germany.

Prior experience: Member of the Executive Committee of BSN Medical in charge of Latin America. Member of the Executive Committee of Endo Pharmaceuticals, Emerging Markets. Head of Latin America at Takeda/Nycomed. Country management roles at Roche Pharmaceuticals and Aventis Pharma.

Shares in Sobi: 79,920.

Daniel Rankin

Head of Strategy & Corporate Development

Head of Strategy and Corporate Development; employed since 2017.

Born 1980; Slovak and British national.

Education: PhD in biology, University of Helsinki, Finland. Master of Science in biology, Leiden University, The Netherlands. Bachelor of Science, University of York, UK.

Prior experience: Head of Corporate Development, Head of Global Product and Portfolio Strategy, and VP Chief of Staff to the CEO at Sobi. Management consultant at McKinsey & Company New York and Zürich. Group Leader at the University of Zürich, Switzerland.

Shares in Sobi: 15,471.

Christine Wesström

Head of Technical Operations

Head of Technical Operations; employed since 2010.

Born 1975; Swedish national.

Education: Master of Science in chemical engineering, major in biotechnology, Mälardalens University, Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Other assignments: Vice chairman of the Board in SwedenBIO.

Prior experience: Head of Global Manufacturing & Infrastructure, Head of External Manufacturing at Sobi. Project Management roles within Manufacturing & CMC Development at Biovitrum.

Shares in Sobi: 27,948.