PEOPLE
Bachem names new CEO
Anne-Kathrin Stoller, currently head of Bachem Americas and previously the company’ s chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO of Bachem on 1 January 1, 2026. She succeeds Thomas Meier, whom“ has decided to take on a new challenge outside the company” after more than 30 years at Bachem and nearly six as CEO.
Sterling changes CEO
Former EuroAPI CEO Karl Rotthier has become CEO of UK-based CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions. He succeeds Kevin Cook, who has retired. The company said that Cook“ leaves behind a business that has greatly transformed from a single site in the UK to a multi-site global leader”.
Qore names interim CEO
Qore, a joint venture in biobased materials between Cargill and Helm, has named Mark Concannon as its interim CEO. Concannon has decades of experience in biobased materials, speciality chemicals and polyurethanes at Cargill, DSM Biobased Products, Corbion and Cytec. He succeeds Jon Veldhouse, who led Qore through the launch of Qira, the world’ s first large-scale 1,4-butanediol made from locally grown dent corn.
Azelis CFO is chosen
Azelis has announced the appointment of Boris Cambon-Lalanne as group CFO and member of the board of directors, effective January 2026, succeeding Thijs Bakker, whose departure was previously announced. Cambon-Lalanne has over 20 years of financial experience in the chemical industry, notably at Solvay, where he rose to be capital markets director.
Van Hulle back at Aurorium
John Van Hulle, currently executive chairman, has returned to the CEO role at Aurorium, formerly Vertellus. Van Hulle previously served as CEO from 2018 to 2024, a time of six strategic acquisitions in the core specialty ingredients and essential materials businesses. He succeeds Faye Freeman, who has left“ for personal reasons”.
Gentile to Symeres
CRDMO Symeres has appointed Gabriella Gentile as its new COO, with the task of leading the transformation of global operations, focusing on expanding capabilities across the pharmaceutical value chain. Gentile has over 25 years of international experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device and services industries, with past roles at Catalent, Roche and Aptuit.
Garj joins Aragen
Indian CRDMO has appointed Neeraj Garg as CEO of its Discovery Solutions business based at the corporate office in Hyderabad. Garj has nearly 30 years’ experience in the business and most recently served as head of Eurofins’ India businesses and its global delivery centre in India.
New pilot named
US speciality chemical company Pilot Chemical has announced that CEO Mike Clark is retiring at the end of 2025 and joining the board of directors. Christian MacIver, who joined the firm as president and COO in 2023, will succeed him as of 1 January 2026.
62 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981