Changes to EMVO Board of Directors & General Manager

After a successful General Assembly meeting, EMVO would like to congratulate EMVO’s Board Members for the renewal of their 2-year mandate and their appointment in new functions within the Board.

More specifically:

  • Ilaria Passarani has been re-elected as EMVO’s Director representing PGEU and has also been appointed as the new EMVO President.
  • Adrian van den Hoven has been re-elected as EMVO’s Director representing Medicines for Europe & appointed as the new EMVO Vice-President.
  • Bernd Grabner has been re-elected as EMVO’s Director representing GIRP & appointed as the new EMVO Treasurer.
  • Nathalie Moll has been re-elected as EMVO’s Director representing EFPIA.
  • Olga Ruppert has been re-elected as EMVO’s Director representing Affordable Medicines Europe.

Furthermore, as Andreas Walter prepares to retire at the end of this year, the General Assembly has appointed EMVO’s new General Manager, set to begin their mandate on 1 January 2025.

New General Manager Announcement

Kai Mjaanes has been appointed as EMVO’s General Manager, starting his duties at the beginning of the year. Kai, an expert in the pharmaceutical sector, has led the Norwegian Medicines Verification Organisation Nomvec and NoMVO since 2018, driving the successful implementation of Norway’s medicines verification system. With an MBA and diverse qualifications, his leadership promises to further strengthen EMVO’s collaboration with the NMVOs and the system’s key users, a cornerstone of the EMVS’s success.

Thoughts from Andreas Walter

Andreas Walter, EMVO General Manager, shares his thoughts on the new composition of EMVO’s Board and the appointment of his successor:

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Nathalie for her exceptional contributions as EMVO Vice-President. She stepped into her role during a challenging period and provided a solid foundation for the organisation and the Board to build upon. Her professionalism, expertise, and precision were invaluable in helping EMVO move forward and overcome obstacles. I am confident that Ilaria will continue this great work as the new EMVO President, leading the organisation to even greater achievements. Congratulations as well to Adrian on becoming Vice-President, and I encourage close collaboration with Ilaria and our new Treasurer, Bernd.

I also want to warmly congratulate my successor, Kai Mjaanes, on his appointment as EMVO’s new General Manager. Kai brings a wealth of experience and expertise, making him the ideal person to lead EMVO into a bright future. As I prepare to leave EMVO on 31 December 2024, I take comfort in knowing that the organisation is in capable hands. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated colleagues, and I am certain the future of the EMVS will be long and exciting. Thank you all for your hard work, and I wish my successor and the Board every success!”

Message from Ilaria Passarani

Ilaria Passarani, EMVO’s new President and Director representing PGEU, states:

“I’m deeply honoured to be elected as President of EMVO. The European Medicines Verification System represents a collective commitment to protecting public health and a shared responsibility of all the actors involved to guarantee that every patient in Europe is protected from the risks posed by falsified medicines.

This is a crucial moment for EMVO as we continue to advance the security and integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. I look forward to working closely with EMVO stakeholders to further strengthen our collaboration and to position the EMVS as a model of trust, safety, efficiency, and reliability.”

Statement from Kai Mjaanes

Kai Mjaanes, EMVO’s new General Manager starting from 1 January 2025, states:

“I am both proud and deeply grateful for the trust the Board has shown in appointing me as General Manager. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Andreas Walter for his leadership and dedication to EMVO, which has laid a strong foundation for the organisation’s continued success.

As I take on this role, I look forward to collaborating with the EMVO board and with my colleagues in NMVOs across Europe. Together, I believe we can unlock more of the potential in the partnership between EMVO and the NMVOs. The EMVS provides a unique meeting place for the whole supply chain to cooperate to protect European patients and ensure the safety and reliability of medicines.”