Sigurdur Olafsson becomes CEO of Hikma

Hikma pharmaceuticals has appointed Sigurdur Olafsson as its new chief executive officer, a role that will also see him join the board as an executive director.

Olafsson has over 25 years of pharmaceutical experience, bringing commercial and operational capabilities to his new role.

He was most recently president and chief executive officer of the Global Generic Medicines Group of Teva Pharmaceuticals, a position he held from 2014 to 2016.

His career has also seen him serve in various capacities for Actavis, Pfizer and Omega Farma.

Olafsson said: “I am looking forward to leading the Hikma team, building on the strong legacy the business has established, particularly in the US and MENA and I believe we have the power do deliver substantial value to our customers, employees, investors and the wider community.”

As chief executive officer, Olafsson will take responsibility for the effective development and execution of Hikma’s corporate strategy, focusing on opportunities to accelerate growth of the global business.

Said Darwazah, Hikma’s recently appointed executive chairman, said: “ We are delighted that Sigurdur is joining Hikma as out new CEO.

“He brings a wealth of pharmaceutical and leadership experience and we are confident that his deep sector knowledge, paired with his proven ability to drive growth, will help us achieve our ambitions for the business.”

As executive chairman, Darwazah will lead the board of directors and he will oversee and engage with the chief executive in setting and delivering the strategic vision for the company.