Thomas Cueni appointed Director General of IFPMA

On 29 November 2016, Thomas B. Cueni was appointed Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) in Washington D.C., USA. He will take up this position, which is based in Geneva, on 1 February 2017. Thomas Cueni is thus leaving Interpharma after around 28 years as Secretary General and Managing Director.

Growing industry  

Under the leadership of the former journalist and diplomat, Interpharma has established itself as a strong business association in Switzerland. As a well-connected ambassador with a keen social and political sensibility, he has succeeded in building bridges between the pharmaceutical industry and politics as well as society. The association's membership has grown to 24 companies in recent years.

The companies represented in Interpharma are responsible for 92 percent of the patent-protected SL market in Switzerland. Their export surplus amounted to around CHF 52.5 billion in 2015.

Committed ambassador

Thomas B. Cueni: "As Secretary General of Interpharma, I have been a strong advocate for innovation-friendly framework conditions at home and abroad that promote pharmaceutical research, development and production. I am now looking forward to continuing this work in my new role within IFPMA." With Cueni, the industry has been able to count on a representative who is well versed in content and communication skills.

Active search for successors

An orderly handover and ensuring the successful continuation of Interpharma's activities have top priority for Thomas B. Cueni. Accordingly, the search for a successor has already been initiated. From 1 January 2017 until the appointment of a successor to Thomas B. Cueni, the current Deputy Secretary General, Dr Heiner Sandmeier, will lead the association ad interim.
http://www.interpharma.ch