ALLENDALE, NJ., USA, MUNICH, GERMANY, and YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – June 28, 2021— Minaris Regenerative Medicine is pleased to announce new appointments to strengthen its global and regional leadership.
Minaris Regenerative Medicine, having facilities in the U.S., Germany, and Japan, will shift to a model of regional operational leadership on October 1, 2021. Under the new model, its three regional Chief Operating Officers (COOs) will collaborate on a Global Functional team to ensure alignment across the three regional companies. This shift is expected to allow for more strategic focus on regional operations, including both short-term projects and long-term capacity planning.
To successfully fulfill the regional and global operations leadership model, the following appointments have been made.
In Japan, Hiroto Bando, PhD, who joined Minaris Regenerative Medicine as Deputy General Manager, Regenerative Medicine Business Sector, Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd., in November 2020, will become President and Chief Executive Officer of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, Japan, effective August 1, 2021.
In the United States, Jo Anne Valentino, who has served as Vice President, Global Head of Quality since January 2019, following an extensive career in quality and operations management including at Novartis and Merck, will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer, United States, on October 1, 2021.
In Germany, Renate Sporrer, who joins Minaris Regenerative Medicine with fifteen years’ experience in quality and operations management, including at Roche, Polpharma Biologics, Novartis, and Sandoz GmbH, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, Germany, effective July 1, 2021.
For Global Quality, Jacqueline Veivia-Panter, who joined Minaris Regenerative Medicine in October 2019 as Senior Director, Quality for its Allendale, New Jersey site, will succeed Jo Anne Valentino as Global Head, Quality effective October 1, 2021. Jacqueline has an extensive career in Quality leadership, and currently serves as Regulatory and Quality Advisory Board Chair for the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA). Jackie will maintain leadership of our Global Quality Leadership Team and will continue to drive forward the globalization of our Quality Management Systems.
“Congratulations to Hiroto, Jo Anne, Renate, and Jacqueline for their appointments into these critical regional and global roles,” said Kazuchika Furuishi, PhD, Corporate Officer, Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.; General Manager, Showa Denko Materials Regenerative Medicine Business Sector; and President and CEO, Minaris Regenerative Medicine, North America. “I am pleased to see effective promotion and strengthening for our executive, quality and operations roles, and I know our regional operations and global quality remain in good hands with these four seasoned pharmaceutical professionals in leadership positions.”
Brian Hanifin, who is currently in the role of Global Chief Operating Officer for Minaris Regenerative Medicine, has decided to leave the organization to pursue other opportunities effective September 30, 2021.
“Thank you, Brian, for your service to Minaris Regenerative Medicine over the past three years during a period of significant expansion and harmonization of our operations,” said Dr. Furuishi.
Minaris Regenerative Medicine consists of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC, based in the United States, Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH, based in Germany, and its Yokohama, Japan site as part of Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd., which will assume the name Minaris Regenerative Medicine Co., Ltd. effective August 1, 2021.
About Minaris Regenerative Medicine
Minaris Regenerative Medicine is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for cell and gene therapies. We offer our clients high value clinical and commercial manufacturing services, development solutions, and technologies. We are pioneers in the field with more than 20 years’ experience providing outstanding quality and reliability. Our facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia allow us to supply patients worldwide with life-changing therapies. Minaris Regenerative Medicine is wholly owned by Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.
For more information, please visit www.rm.minaris.com.
Hiroto Bando, PhD, Profile
Hiroto joined Minaris Regenerative Medicine in November 2020 with over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Hiroto is the Deputy General Manager of the Regenerative Medicine Business Sector of Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. His responsibilities include coordinating global Business Development activities and developing business strategies that provide global leadership and oversight. Hiroto received his PhD in pharmaceutical science from Kyoto University, performed post-doctoral work at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas and holds an MBA from Kenichi Ohmae Graduate School of Business.
Jacqueline Veivia-Panter Profile
Jackie has served as the Quality Site Head for the Allendale, New Jersey site of Minaris Regenerative Medicine since October 2019. She joined Minaris Regenerative Medicine with over 20 years’ experience in Quality. Previously, Jackie was Senior Director, Global Quality and Compliance/Temporary IT Head at Legend Biotech, as well as holding quality roles at companies such as Celgene, Abbvie/Abbott, BlisTech Corporation, and Pfizer. Jackie also has experience working as an independent quality consultant. Currently, Jackie holds the position of Regulatory and Quality Advisory Board Chair for the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA). Jackie holds an MBA at New Jersey Institute of Technology and a BS in Medical Technology at Marquette University.
Jo Anne Valentino Profile
Serving as Global Head of Quality for the Regenerative Medicine Business Sector of Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. and Vice President of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC, since January 2019, Jo Anne is an accomplished Quality Assurance senior leader. She is responsible for developing and leading the implementation of the company’s integrated global quality strategy in alignment with overall global strategy and Health Authority regulations. Prior to Minaris, she spent seven years with Novartis in quality leadership roles, as well as eleven years at Merck in both operations management and quality assurance roles. Jo Anne received her MS in management from Stevens Institute of Technology and her BS in chemical engineering from Manhattan College.
Renate Sporrer Profile
With over 15 years’ of leadership experience, Renate has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH. Renate has extensive experience in Quality and Operations and most recently served as Site Quality Head at Roche in Basel, Switzerland. She has held previous roles relating to Quality and Operations at Polpharma Biologics, Sandoz GmbH, and Novartis. Renate received her MS in International Business and Engineering from the University for Applied Sciences in Vienna and her diploma from the College of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna.
For more information, contact:
Luc St-Onge, Ph.D.
Global Head of Sales and Marketing
Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH
E-Mail: press@rm.minaris.de
Phone: +49 (0)89 700 9608-0
Please read the German press release here/Pressemitteilung auf Deutsch