Astellas has appointed Eugene Van Rensburg as chief financial officer for its EMEA operations.
He takes over from Niek Stander, who will now head up the company’s German operations as managing director of Astrellas Pharma GmbH.
The move is a promotion for Van Rensburg, who was previously senior finance director and will now oversee the company’s finance function across 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
He will be responsible for all financial planning and operations, and his future priorities will include strategic planning and budgeting and finding ‘innovative ways to maximise value of existing brands and assets’.
Ken Jones, Astellas Pharma EMEA’s president and CEO, said: “In the ten years since Astellas was formed the company has grown strongly and developed ground-breaking medicines that are changing patients’ lives. Eugene will play a major role as we work to sustain this success by maximising the value of our portfolio, prioritising research and development, and achieving operational excellence.”
Meanwhile, Astellas has also appointed Jamie McGarvey as senior manager to its US corporate affairs department.
She will be tasked with developing and implementing employee communications throughout the US and the Americas, including executive support and will report to associate director of employee communications Jennifer Saputo.
Jeff Winton, senior vice president, corporate affairs, and chief communications officer, said: “Astellas recognises that an informed and engaged employee base helps drive our overall success. Jamie’s broad experience in employee communications and change management will help strengthen our award-winning workplace and corporate culture.”
McGarvey most recently served as communications lead for global process and systems implementation programs at Baxter International and has also worked in various internal and external communications roles in Chicago at US Cellular Corporation and Swedish Covenant Hospital.