Dr. Andrea Rappagliosi to chair EuropaBio

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - At its Annual General Assembly EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, elected Dr. Andrea Rappagliosi the Vice President of the European Government Affairs & Head of Brussels Office, GlaxoSmithKline, to Chair the Association over the next two years. He succeeds Mr. Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO, Novozymes A/S , who has completed his mandate but will stay on as a Board Member. 
 

Dr. Andrea Rappagliosi joined the EuropaBio Board in 2004 and was appointed at the Executive Committee in 2005. In the last four years, he chaired the Healthcare Council of the Association and represented EuropaBio at the European Commission High Level Pharmaceutical Forum.

“We need to be courageous and drive changes to ensure that in Europe we utilize the full potential of biotechnology in order to overcome the important challenges imposed by the financial, economic and social crisis that we are currently facing” – says Dr. Andrea Rappagliosi, Chairman of EuropaBio – “By strengthening the European biotechnology sector's competitiveness, we will build a solid foundation for a wealthy and healthy society in Europe, where citizens can live better and longer. This sector can play an important part in progress towards Europe’s goal of economic growth, social prosperity and solidarity.”.

In welcoming the new chairman, Mr. Willy De Greef, Secretary General of EuropaBio said: “We are delighted to have a strong believer in our industry who will continue to bring his passion to the cause of biotechnology. Andrea will be a dynamic Chairman and will build further on the strengths of the association.”

In addition to new Board Members the association also elected Mr. Thomas Bols, Director Government Affairs, Europe, Amgen, as Chair of the Healthcare Council and Dr. Detlef Niese, Head of External Affairs, Global Development, Novartis, as Vice-Chair for Science. Additionally, Mr. Jan Wisse, Managing Director of the Netherlands' Biotech Industry Association (NIABA), was elected Chair of the National Associations’ Council.

About EuropaBio

EuropaBio is the EU association representing the biotechnology industry across a wide number of industrial sectors, including health, agri-food and industrial processes. The association has been at the forefront of developing policies to grow a strong biotechnology sector in Europe. 

Websites: http://www.europabio.org