Biogen is an American biotechnology company that provides therapeutics for neurological, autoimmune, and rare diseases.


Biotechnology

Biogen

Kendra Thomas is the Head of Global Workforce Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and People Relations, joining Biogen in March 2020. She is responsible for the development and implementation of Biogen’s global DE&I strategy, as well as leading and conducting workplace investigations and end-to-end support for workforce planning, performance management and risk mitigation. She is helping shape Biogen’s desired culture, cultivating talent through transparent performance management and enhancing the employee experience by providing expert consultation.

Before joining Biogen, Ms. Thomas held positions of successive HR and DE&I leadership roles in diverse industries, including academic healthcare, education and government. She is a graduate of Missouri State University and Northeastern University School of Law. 

Ms. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in socio-political communications from Missouri State University and a J.D. with a focus on employment law and civil rights from Northeastern University School of Law.

Kendra Thomas

Dr. Wolfram Schmidt is President, Europe, Canada & Partner Markets, responsible for Biogen’s commercial operations in 39 countries.

Based on his strong international footprint with leadership roles in global, regional and local organizations in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Schmidt has strong scientific and commercial expertise across Oncology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Rare Diseases and Biosimilars. Previously serving as Managing Director of Biogen Germany, the largest Biogen subsidiary outside of the U.S., Dr. Schmidt has a deep purpose of doing the right thing for patients, developing teams, innovating businesses, driving growth and building partnership.

Committed to shaping the future of the sector and access environment, Dr. Schmidt is a prominent voice in industry associations, most recently as President of the American Biotechnology Companies Germany (LAWG) and Executive Board Member of the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA).

Prior to Biogen, Dr. Schmidt held various leadership positions at Roche, including Global Head of Biologics Strategy at Roche AG in Basel. He began his career as a pharmaceutical sales representative at Boehringer Ingelheim before taking on global commercial and operational management roles at Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). He has lived and worked across multiple geographies.

Dr. Schmidt holds a PhD in Chemistry, having studied at the universities of Ulm and Bayreuth, and is a member of the supervisory board of directors of a:head, an Austria-based neuroscience stem cell, brain organoid research start-up.

Wolfram Schmidt

Fraser Hall is President for the Intercontinental Region, which includes Latin America, Australia, Asia, Japan, the Middle East and Africa, as well as Turkey and Russia/CIS.  

Prior to joining Biogen in July 2020 as Vice President for Latin America, Mr. Hall was with AstraZeneca for 5 years. There, he initially served as Vice President in the global organization, where he led the strategy and launch preparation for a new stroke treatment, and then as Country President for Brazil, where he led the COVID trial program and negotiations on vaccine supply with the Brazilian government.

Before AstraZeneca, Mr. Hall worked for Novartis for 13 years. This experience covered leadership and general management roles at country, region and global levels, with extensive work in Asia and developing markets.

Mr. Hall holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Aston University and has completed finance and organizational leadership courses at Harvard University and MIT.

Fraser Hall

Martin Dubuc is Head of [Biogen](/org/biogen) Digital Health.

In his role leading [Biogen](/org/biogen) Digital Health, Mr. Dubuc is responsible for accelerating strategic digitalization enabling precision medicine, being at the forefront of neurotech, and evolving patient-centric care by harnessing data science and digital innovation. He is also President, Managing Director [Biogen](/org/biogen) France.

Mr. Dubuc joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) in 2016 as Senior Vice President, Customer Excellence & Innovation. Prior to joining [Biogen](/org/biogen), Mr. Dubuc was Chief Product Officer and International General Manager for Aptus Health, a digital health company, and has held a variety of roles over 15 years at [Pfizer](/org/pfizer) and Merck & Co. within commercial innovation, digital and customer strategy in Europe and the U.S.

Mr. Dubuc holds a Master of Science from EFREI Paris, engineering school of digital technologies.

Martin Dubuc

Michael Hencke is the current Head of Investor Relations at [Biogen](/org/biogen). Prior to this role, they served as a Summer Intern in Global Neurology Marketing at [Biogen](/org/biogen) from May to August 2011. Before their time at [Biogen](/org/biogen), Hencke was an Analyst at [Health Advances](/org/health-advances) from August 2006 to May 2007. Michael then became a Consultant at Semprus BioSciences from February 2006 to March 2013. Hencke's first internship was at Shire HGT from January to December 2006, followed by another internship at Innovasep from January 2000 to December 2002.

[

Michael Hencke pursued an MBA at [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school) and a S.B. in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they also minored in Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering.

Their manager is Michael Mcdonnell, EVP, CFO.

Michael Hencke

Michael McDonnell is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of [Biogen](/org/biogen) and has served on the Executive Committee since August 2020. Mr. McDonnell joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) from [IQVIA](/org/iqvia) (formerly Quintiles) a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry, where he was the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since December 2015.  

Prior to joining [Biogen](/org/biogen), Mr. McDonnell, served for seven years as CFO at [Intelsat](/org/intelsat), a leading global satellite service provider. Before that, he was CFO at both MCG Capital Corporation and EchoStar Communications (DishNetwork). Earlier in his career, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Mike also served as a member of the board of directors of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., a publicly held pharmacy benefits management company from 2005 until 2012.

Mr. McDonnell has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from [Georgetown University](/org/georgetown-university) and is a certified public accountant.

Michael Mcdonnell

Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D., is Group SVP and Chief Medical Officer, responsible for the Worldwide Medical function since rejoining [Biogen](/org/biogen) in January 2020.

Previously, Maha was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Medical, Primary Care Business Unit at [Sanofi](/org/sanofi), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health, from 2016-2019. At [Sanofi](/org/sanofi), Dr. Radhakrishnan led the medical strategy and operations for the Diabetes and Cardiovascular products and development programs. She has also held several leadership roles at Bioverativ Inc. (2016-2018), [Biogen](/org/biogen) for the first time from (2013-2016), Bristol Myers Squibb (2009-2013), United Health Group (2006-2008), and Cephalon (2005-2006).

Dr. Radhakrishnan has extensive experience in overseeing the external scientific engagement strategy with academic institutions, top and emerging key opinion leaders, patient advocacy groups, payers, and regulators.

Dr. Radhakrishnan received her M.D. in internal medicine with honors from the People’s Friendship University in Moscow, Russia in 1995 as well as a Master’s Degree in Russian language. She is also a certified Russian language instructor and interpreter.

Maha Radhakrishnan

Natacha Gassenbach joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) in October 2018 as Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Communication Officer. In her role, Natacha leads the global corporate affairs function including external and internal communications, branding and reputation, patient advocacy, and corporate responsibility. She also has responsibility for the [Biogen](/org/biogen) Foundation and philanthropy. Prior to joining [Biogen](/org/biogen), Mrs. Gassenbach spent more than 20 years in various leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry with experience in medical devices, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, spanning from early stage companies to large corporations. She led communications and engagement with key stakeholders during major, complex transformations and participate to the launch of breakthrough products. Prior to joining [Biogen](/org/biogen), Mrs. Gassenbach was Head of Corporate Affairs at [Baxalta](/org/baxalta) (acquired by Shire), Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and [Boston Scientific](/org/boston-scientific). Mrs. Gassenbach earned a master’s degree in journalism and communication from the University of Paris Sorbonne.

Natacha Gassenbach

Alisha Alaimo is the current President of [Biogen](/org/biogen) U.S. Organization at [Biogen](/org/biogen). Alisha has held various positions at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, [Alcon](/org/alcon), and [Johnson & Johnson](/org/johnson-johnson). Alisha has been in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in managing businesses and teams.

Alisha Alaimo graduated from [Emory University](/org/emory-university) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Their manager is Michel Vounatsos, CEO & Board Director. Alisha Alaimo works with Wolfram Schmidt - President, Europe, Canada & Partner Markets, Nicole Murphy - Head of Pharmaceutical Operations & Technology, and Ginger Gregory - EVP, CHRO.

Alisha Alaimo

Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H. is the Senior Vice President (S.V.P.) and Head of Global Safety and Regulatory Sciences and interim Head of Research & Development at [Biogen](/org/biogen). She also has oversight of Japan and China R&D. Dr. Singhal rejoined [Biogen](/org/biogen) in 2020, having previously led [Biogen](/org/biogen)’s Global Safety and Benefit Risk Management as the interim co-lead and Senior Vice President of Global Development. In her role as S.V.P. she managed the worldwide benefit-risk strategy for the portfolio as well as for the filings and approvals of six products. She joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) in late 2012 as Vice President Clinical Trials and Benefit-Risk Management. Prior to her return to [Biogen](/org/biogen), Dr. Singhal served as Head of R&D and Manufacturing at Zafgen Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary knowledge of MetAP2 systems biology to develop novel therapies for patients affected by a range of metabolic diseases. From 2008-2012 she was at [Vertex Pharmaceuticals](/org/vertex-pharmaceuticals) where she served as the Vice President, Medical Affairs and held roles of increasing seniority in Global Patient Safety. She began her drug-development career at Millennium Pharmaceuticals where she led benefit-risk for Velcade and two compounds in the development portfolio. Preceding her career in the Biotechnology Industry, Dr. Singhal completed her M.P.H. in International Health at Harvard School of Public Health and obtained her training in Internal Medicine in Mumbai, India.

Priya Singhal

Rachid Izzar is Executive Vice President, Global Product Strategy & Commercialization, and has served on the Executive Committee since July 2021. He is also responsible for the global Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and Biosimilars business units at [Biogen](/org/biogen).

Mr. Izzar joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) in October 2019 as President of the Intercontinental Region, including Latin America, Australia, Asia, Japan, the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Russia, and the Biosimilars business unit. Before joining [Biogen](/org/biogen), he was a Country President for [AstraZeneca](/org/astrazeneca) in France. He held several leadership roles at [AstraZeneca](/org/astrazeneca), including responsibility for all business and commercial operations, as well as the build-out and management of the global cardiovascular franchise. Before that, he was based in Shanghai and served as Vice President of Strategic Transformation, led the China portfolio, and served as Vice President of Commercial International covering China, Australia, Brazil, Russia, Latin America, Asia, Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa.

Mr. Izzar holds an M.B.A. from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada and a graduate diploma in Business Transformation from [Harvard University](/org/harvard).

Rachid Izzar

- Responsible for Global Commercial SC at [Biogen](/org/biogen), driving SC Transformation, Organizational Capability, Creation of Customer Centric and Adaptable Supply to Market Models and ensuring Patient Supply
- Bio-Pharmaceutical experience in Manufacturing and Packaging and Supply Chain, in both Europe and US.
-Track record in Operational Excellence and Managing Operational Turnarounds including compliance
- Managed Integration Processes within Operations during merger and acquisition
- Defined and implemented Manufacturing Optimization Strategies in Europe, including Sterile Strategy and Plant Closures
- Key member of the New Jersey site Management Team that addressed Schering-Plough’s Consent Decree in the US, which resulted in the development of Industry Leading Quality Standards and Practices
- Built Organizational Capabilities through coaching, people development, empowering and hiring talent

Peter Puype

Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., is Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at [Biogen](/org/biogen), and has served on the Executive Committee since 2015. He has served as the head of Research & Development since October 2019 and as our Chief Medical Officer since 2012. Since joining the company in 1998, he has held several senior executive positions, including Senior Vice President of Development Sciences, Senior Vice President of Neurology Research and Development, and Vice President of Clinical Development, Neurology. Dr. Sandrock received his B.A. in human biology from [Stanford University](/org/stanford), an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and a Ph.D. in neurobiology from [Harvard University](/org/harvard). He completed an internship in medicine, a residency and chief residency in neurology, and a clinical fellowship in Neuromuscular Disease and Clinical Neurophysiology (electromyography) at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr.

Executive Leadership
Ginger  Gregory, Ph.D. 	
Ginger Gregory, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President

Chief Human Resources Officer


Ginger Gregory, Ph.D., is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer of [Biogen](/org/biogen) and has served on the Executive Committee since July 2017. Dr. Gregory joined [Biogen](/org/biogen) from Shire PLC, where she had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since 2014.

Prior to joining Shire, Dr. Gregory held executive-level human resources positions for several multinational companies across a variety of industries, including Dunkin’ Brands, where she served as Chief Human Resource Officer; Novartis, AG, where she was the division head of Human Resources for Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Novartis Consumer Health, and Novartis Institutes of BioMedical Research from 2005-2012; and [Novo Nordisk](/org/novo-nordisk), where she served as Senior Vice President, Corporate People & Organization at the company’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Earlier in her career, she held a variety of human resources generalist and specialist positions at Bristol Myers Squibb and served as a consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton in the area of organization change and effectiveness.

Dr. Gregory is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and The George Washington University with a B.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Psychology.

Ginger Gregory

Susan H. Alexander is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of [Biogen](/org/biogen), and has served on the Executive Committee since 2006. Prior to that, from 2006 to December 2011, Ms. Alexander served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. From 2003 to January 2006, Ms. Alexander served as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PAREXEL International Corporation, a biopharmaceutical services company. From 2001 to 2003, Ms. Alexander served as General Counsel of IONA Technologies, a software company. From 1995 to 2001, Ms. Alexander served as Counsel at Cabot Corporation, a specialty chemicals and performance materials company. Prior to that, Ms. Alexander was a partner at the law firms of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder and Fine & Ambrogne. Ms. Alexander received her B.A. from [Wellesley College](/org/wellesley-college) and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

Susan Alexander

Nicole Murphy is Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology of Biogen and joined the Executive Committee in 2022. Ms. Murphy joined Biogen in 2015 and has held senior executive positions, including most recently as Senior Vice President, Head of Global Manufacturing & Technical Operations (GMTO). In 2017, Ms. Murphy played a critical role during the successful spin-off of Biogen’s hemophilia franchise, as the Vice President and Head of Technical Operations of Bioverativ and prior to the spin-off was the General Manager and Head of Cambridge Site Operations at Biogen. Ms. Murphy has extensive experience in leading Supply Chain, Quality, Process Development, Manufacturing and Engineering functions. Prior to joining Biogen Ms. Murphy spent over 15 years at Amgen.

Ms. Murphy holds an MS in Chemical Engineering, an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a BS in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Ms. Murphy serves on a variety of industry councils and committees.

Nicole Murphy

Christopher A. Viehbacher joined Biogen as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors in November 2022.

Viehbacher has extensive international experience in both large pharmaceutical companies and entrepreneurial biotech companies and has a passion for advancing science for the benefit of patients and public health.

After 20 years with GlaxoSmithKline, he served as global CEO of Sanofi for six years. Under Viehbacher’s leadership, Sanofi strengthened and diversified its R&D pipeline and delivered significant value to shareholders.

More recently, Viehbacher and Ernesto Bertarelli co-founded Gurnet Point Capital, a Cambridge-based healthcare investment fund, which has led to the creation and continuing development of many innovative companies. He has also chaired or been a member of the board of a number of entrepreneurial companies in biotechnology. Viehbacher has always been a strong advocate for innovation and public health. He has received a number of awards including the Légion d’Honneur from France.

He graduated from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He is a certified public accountant, and he speaks French, German and English.

Christopher A. Viehbacher

Jesus B. Mantas is the current Director at [Biogen](/org/biogen). Prior to their current position, Jesus Mantas worked as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting from 1997-2002 and as a Manager at Procter & Gamble from 1992-1994. 

Jesus Mantas has over 25 years of professional experience and has spent 16 years delivering value to clients through strategy, transformation, and technology implementation programs. Mantas has held relationship and delivery management roles for clients in the Electronic Manufacturing Services, Consumer Electronics, and Industrial Product Industries. Jesus has also led ERP implementation, IT Strategy, Merger and Acquisitions, and Emerging Technology Integration programs extending to the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. In 2001, Jesus Mantas won Innovation awards for leading edge business mobile solutions.

Jesus B. Mantas has a corporate governance degree from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school), a post-degree in business administration from [Universidad Politécnica de Madrid](/org/universidad-politecnica-de-madrid), and is an Ingeniero Superior in telecommunications from [Universidad Politécnica de Madrid](/org/universidad-politecnica-de-madrid). Jesus also has certification in corporate governance - audit and compensation from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school), and certification in The IBM Way and Enterprise Design Thinking from IBM.

Jesus B. Mantas

Jamie Denton

Jann Haagaard 

Eva Zhou

dai kim

RaeAnn Maxwell

Houda Benjelloun

Maria C. Freire, Ph.D. joined our Board of Directors in 2021.  Dr. Freire is a member of our Compensation and Management Development Committee.  Since November 2012 Dr. Freire has served as President and Executive Director and as a member of the board of directors of the [Foundation for the [National Institutes of Health](/org/national-institutes-of-health)](/org/foundation-for-the-national-institutes-of-health).  From March 2008 to November 2012 she served as President and as a member of the board of directors of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.  Prior to joining the Lasker Foundation, Dr. Freire served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development from 2001 to 2008 and Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at the [National Institutes of Health](/org/national-institutes-of-health) from 1995 to 2001.  Dr. Freire also serves as a director of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., a publicly held urban office real estate investment trust uniquely focused on collaborative life science and technology campuses, and Exelixis, Inc., a drug discovery and development company. 

Maria Freire

William D. Jones joined our Board of Directors in 2021.  Mr. Jones is a member of our Compensation and Management Development Committee.  Since 1994 Mr. Jones has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of CityLink Investment Corporation, a commercial real estate investment and development services firm.  From 2001 to 2018 Mr. Jones was the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the City Scene Management Company, a real estate management company.  Mr. Jones served as General Manager/Senior Asset Manager and Investment Manager with certain real estate subsidiaries of The Prudential from 1989 to 1993.  Mr. Jones is a director and, in some cases, Board Chair of certain funds under management by the Capital Group and Capital Group Private Client Services.  He is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow and a trustee of the University of California San Diego Foundation and its Investment Committee and the Real Estate Advisory Council.  Mr. Jones is also the Lead Independent Director for [Sempra Energy](/org/sempra-energy), an energy infrastructure company. 

Biogen

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