Kirsti Gjellan swaps Pfizer for Sobi

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) has appointed Pfizer's Kirsti Gjellan as senior VP manufacturing operations.

Sobi gains an experienced mind with Gjellan, who most recently serving as managing director for Pfizer in Sweden as well as site leader for its plant in Strängnäs.

The site opened in 2009 to produce the active ingredients for growth hormone Genotropin (somatropin) and the acromegaly treatment Somavert (pegvisomant).

Gjellan spent nine years at Pfizer in total, during which time she received the John Mitchell Quality Award for quality in manufacturing in 2006 and the Swedish Change Management Award for the best Change Management Project in 2013.

Her previous experience includes a 16-year period at AstraZeneca where she worked across drug discovery, research and manufacturing.

Geoffrey McDonough, president and CEO at Sobi, said he was “delighted” to welcome Gjellan to the company.

"Kirsti will continue to build on the legacy of our biologics manufacturing organisation, and to prepare us for our future products for patients with rare diseases.

Gjellan will complete her move to Sobi in September this year when current senior VP manufacturing operations Lena Nyström is due to retire.