UK trade body the European Medicines Group (EMG) has elected David Garmon-Jones, UK managing director of Merck Sereno, as its new chair and Zinta Krumins, UK managing director of Boehringer Ingelheim, as vice chair.
Garmon-Jones (left) was previously vice chair at the organisation, which provide a voice on UK health policy for 17 European companies based outside the country. He takes over from Steve Oldfield, former managing director for Sanofi UK.
Garmon-Jones has been with Merck Serono since 1983 and has served as managing director for the company’s operations in the UK and Ireland since July 2012.
Commenting on his appointment as chair of the EMG, he said: “With the growing focus on the European Union and the future shape of the UK’s relationship with Europe generally, EMG’s views on the UK pharmaceutical industry’s place within this becomes even more relevant.”
Krumins (right) joined Boehringer in 1989 and has held a variety of senior roles around the world including managing director for Turkey and the Nordics. She has also held leadership positions in corporate departments including head of corporate development and emerging markets area manager.
She has been managing director for Boehringer in the UK and Ireland since January 2014.
Krumins said: “Having spent the past seventeen years outside the UK in various different countries, I am delighted to have the opportunity of the officer role in the EMG, where the direct engagement with peers and other stakeholders will help to strengthen the position of my own organisation in meeting the changing requirements of the NHS.”
EMG represents UK operations in 17 research-driven pharma companies including Bayer, Novo Nordisk and Roche.