Russell Thirsk

Russell Thirsk is an accomplished operations leader with extensive experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Bavarian Nordic since April 2022, Russell previously held significant roles at GSK as Head of Operations in Belgium and at Novartis as Head of Global Technical Operations. At Novartis, Russell managed large-scale organizational transformations and oversaw substantial manufacturing operations while contributing to global strategies for influenza vaccines. With a career that began in engineering roles, including management positions at Chiron Corporation and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Russell possesses a strong technical background complemented by a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham.