Former Roche CEO joins BIAL board

Portugal-based pharma company BIAL has appointed former Roche CEO Franz Humer as a non-executive member of its board.

Humer has vast experience in the pharma industry, spending 10 years as CEO of Swiss giant Roche from 1998 to 2008 and 13 years as chairman of its board of directors from 2001 to 2014 when he retired from the company.

In total he spent 19 years at Roche, where he also served as chief operating officer and head of its pharmaceutical division. This followed 15 years at Glaxo Holdings (now part of GSK) and 8 years at Schering Plough (now part of Merck & Co).

He will now advised BIAL which has a strong presence in southern Europe and in Latin America and is looking to grow internationally.

Luís Portela, chairman of BIAL, said: "It is an honour to count on the experience of Dr Franz Humer, who dedicated his professional career to the pharmaceutical industry in large multinational companies of innovation. His incorporation is especially relevant to BIAL as it is a recognition of the work we have been developing."