Zahir Lavji

Zahir has spent over 30 years in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry in a broad range of senior commercial roles. His career included responsibilities commercializing a number of major billion dollar pharmaceuticals, glucose monitoring medical devices, medical nutrition and critical care devices. In his last role before retiring from Abbott he was the Vice President, International Marketing. His responsibilities included all aspects of brand marketing (including Humira the #1 product in the world at more than $10 billion in sales), new product development, portfolio management, life cycle management, licensing and business development. Earlier in his career he was responsible for global commercial operations for the Diabetes Care Division. He spent a total of 8 years in Japan in various sales and marketing roles ultimately as the President Abbott Japan where he also managed multiple business alliances with major Japanese Pharma companies. In his role running Central & East Europe and Scandinavia he successfully integrated the Knoll acquisition into single Abbott entities.

Since retiring from Abbott, he has devoted considerable time and expertise mentoring Medical Device startups from the Chicago Innovation Mentors group and Hyde Park Angels. He is also a member of the review committee for the University of Chicago’s Innovation Fund at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He consults for Melinta, Sonarmed, mHealthCoach, Cyclica, Hagen Pharma, Creativasc, Prime Life Fibers, Physician Software Systems in the healthcare space.

He is also actively involved with Alzheimers Association, Aga Khan Foundation and Sonia Shah Organization.

Zahir obtained his MBA from the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University and received a MSc. and BSc. degrees in Pharmacology and Sciences respectively from University of Toronto.