Since joining CordenPharma over a decade ago as VP, Head of Marketing & Sales, Michael has been instrumental in transforming the company from a collection of independent sites into a globally integrated organization. Over the past eleven years, Michael has navigated CordenPharma through key transitions, including site acquisitions, divestitures, transitioning to new shareholders, and substantial CAPEX investments. Over the coming years, he continued to drive cutting-edge projects to meet evolving market, customer, and patient needs, and grew the company from €245 million in sales in 2014 to a projected €1 billion in 2025. CordenPharma’s manufacturing capacity and capabilities expansion is not only focused on meeting growing market demand but also on addressing some of the most pressing unmet medical needs. A significant part of this effort is dedicated to rare diseases, a field where 300 million patients worldwide often face limited treatment options. Here, Michael is the driving force behind CordenPharma’s commitment to advancing innovators’ research with effective manufacturing solutions for several rare diseases, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Rett Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X Syndrome, Gaucher Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael’s leadership was instrumental in CordenPharma’s rapid response to supply critical Lipids for mRNA vaccines, helping accelerate the global vaccine rollout by guiding the tireless efforts of global CordenPharma teams with vigilance, positivity and dedication. Building on this success, CordenPharma, together with WACKER, were awarded a Pandemic Preparedness contract by the German government - a strategic initiative to secure future vaccine production in response to potential shortages - where both companies committed to maintaining production readiness for mRNA-based vaccines, and ensuring the capability to manufacture 80 million doses annually within an extremely short timeframe, in the event of a new pandemic. This reinforces CordenPharma’s role as a key partner in global health security, safeguarding future vaccine accessibility. For Michael and CordenPharma’s shareholders, expansion can’t happen at the expense of the environment. As members of the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), CordenPharma is committed to a sustainability plan that allows for complex expansion while actively pursuing nearterm carbon emission reduction targets in line with a 1.5° C trajectory. Finally, what truly sets Michael apart as an extraordinary leader, is his deep commitment and passion for building a leading CDMO grounded in core values (accountability, collaboration, integrity, trust and reliability) as well as strong operational pillars. Throughout his journey in the organization, he discovered that his greatest source of enthusiasm comes from working alongside expert teams across our sites - teams that keep the end goal in mind: supporting innovators and, ultimately, the patients they serve. It is this tireless passion and deep commitment - not just to business success, but to making a tangible impact on the industry and patient care - that makes Michael an extraordinary CEO. Being a finalist in both API Development & Innovation and CEO of the Year categories of the CPHI Awards highlights not only CordenPharma’s scientific and operational achievements, but also our steady commitment to supporting innovators and improving patient outcomes. These nominations are both a milestone and a motivation - to continue advancing technologies like TAPS, to expand our global CDMO capabilities, and to lead with purpose and responsibility in an evolving healthcare landscape. We look forward to celebrating with all the finalists at the awards evening on October 28th in Frankfurt! CordenPharma 16CPHI FRANKFURT 2025 PREVIEW
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