CPhI gets a new steer from industry

CPhI will operate with a new advisory board in 2015, with the aim of better targeting of forums and themes surrounding the show.

The new board will coexist with the annual report expert panel, which predicts the future of the industry through a series of articles.

The members will include representation from key analysts, leading exhibitors, big pharma, independent experts and academics.

Alan Sheppard, Principal, Global Generics, Thought Leadership, IMS Health will provide expertise across the generics, biosimilars and emerging markets. Ingredients manufacturer, FMC will lend its expertise on excipients through Brian Carlin, Director of Open Innovation.

CDMOs Catalent and DPx will provide global perspectives through Kurt Nielsen, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, R&D (Catalent); and Lukas Utiger, President, DPx Fine Chemicals. Regulatory expertise will come from Dilip Shah, CEO of Vision Consulting and Marlene Llopiz, Director for International Strategies and Regulatory Affairs, Probiomed.

Big pharma and generics will be represented through Martin Folger, Head of Pharmaceutical Development, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica; and Roger Bakale, Vice President CMC and Clinical Supply Chain, Receptos (and formally a Senior Director of R&D at TEVA).

Partnerships, Packaging, Fine Chemicals and Marketing will complete the expertise portfolio through: Giles Breault who left Novartis to found consultancy firm the Beyond Group; Frederic Kahn, Vice President Key Account Management, Gerresheimer AG; Jan Ramakers, Owner, Fine Chemical Consulting Group; and Nigel Walker, Managing Director of That’s Nice respectively.

The board will meet annually and take part in regular conference calls in order to provide strategic insights into current plans and future development priorities, along with key practical issues surrounding the pharma industry and CPhI- ensuring that this feedback is implemented at the world’s leading pharma event.

At CPhI Worldwide, the Pre-Connect Congress agenda will be shaped by insights derived from conversations with the advisory board.

The board will also assist with targeted attendee profiling and audience message mapping - which is essentially a review of visitor goals and priorities.

“We are really delighted to be able to call upon such a unique mix of industry experts to help ensure that our global CPhI Pharma portfolio remains the most relevant, insightful and respected platform for doing business and finding new opportunities in the global pharma community. Our goal now is to enhance the opportunities and services we bring to our customers and ensure we present them with the latest insights, and practical solutions, to establish more pharma contacts and make improved business decisions.” Chris Kilbee, Group Director Pharma at UBM.