Executive Committee

The members of the Executive Committee are appointed by the Board of Directors. Lonza’s Executive Committee performs the duties assigned to it by the Board of Directors under the terms of the Regulations Governing Internal Organization and Board Committees. It is responsible for managing Lonza worldwide and for implementing policies and strategies as defined by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee supports and coordinates the activities of the segments, the corporate functions and the global business service organization. The Executive Committee is also responsible for leadership development.

Board of Directors
Board Committees

Wolfgang Wienand, Chief Executive Officer


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Wolfgang Wienand

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Member of the Executive Committee (since July 2024)
Wolfgang holds a PhD in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Cologne (DE), as well as an Executive Master of Science in Finance from HEC Paris (FR).

Current Activities
  • Non-Executive Director of the Board, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (since 2023)
Former Activities and Functions
  • Chief Executive Officer, Siegfried Holding AG (2019 – 2024)
  • Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer, and Member of the EC, Siegfried Holding AG (2017 – 2018)
  • Chief Strategy Officer and Member of the EC, Siegfried Holding AG (2011 – 2017)
  • Chief Scientific Officer and Member of the EC, Siegfried Holding AG (2010 – 2012)
  • Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Evonik Industries AG (2008 – 2010)
  • Director, Process Research Biocatalysis and Homogenous Catalysis, Evonik Industries AG (2006 – 2008)
  • Director, Strategy & Market Intelligence, Evonik Industries AG (2005 – 2006)
  • Project Leader, Evonik Industries AG (formerly Degussa AG) (2002 – 2004)

Philippe Deecke - Headshot

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Philippe Deecke

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Member of the Executive Committee (since December 2021)
Philippe holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management and Manufacturing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich (CH), as well as an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School (US).

Current Activities
  • Member of the Board of Directors, Assura (since May 2023)
Former Activities and Functions
  • CFO, Novartis Oncology (2021)
  • CFO, Sandoz, division of Novartis (2017–2021)
  • CFO, Alcon EMEA, division of Novartis (2015–2017)
  • Head Group Business planning and Analysis, Novartis International AG (2012–2015)
  • CFO, Chief Financial and Administration Officer, Novartis Schweiz AG (2010–2012)
  • Project Director, Novartis International AG (2008–2010)
  • Head Finance, Novartis Pharmaceutical Inc. (US)  (2006–2008)
  • Assistant to CEO, Novartis International AG (2005–2006)
  • Associate Principal, McKinsey (1998–2005)

Maria Soler Nunez, Member of the Executive Committee

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Maria Soler Nunez

Head, Group Operations and Member of the Executive Committee (since August 2022)
Maria Soler Nunez holds a PhD in Pharmacy in the area of Genetics, Molecular Biology from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES).

Former Activities and Functions
  • Chief Quality Officer, Novartis (2020-2022)
  • Head Global Manufacturing Functions, Novartis (2018-2020)
  • Head Packaging and Manufacturing, Science & Technology, Novartis (2018)
  • Head Manufacturing, Science & Technology, Novartis (2016-2017)
  • Various regional and global leadership positions in Manufacturing and Quality at Novartis and Lilly (1997-2016)

Nicoleta Baumgärtner, Member of the Executive Committee

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Nicoleta Baumgärtner

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Member of the Executive Committee (since November 2024)
Nicoleta holds a master’s degree in Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest (RO).

Former Activities and Functions
  • Global Head of HR, Biologics division, Lonza Group Ltd (2024)
  • Global Head of HR, Capsules & Health Ingredients division, Lonza Group Ltd (2021 – 2024)
  • Global Head Rewards, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (2018 – 2021)
  • Head HR, Global Supply Chain, Global Strategy & OpEx, Novartis (2016 – 2018)
  • Head HR, Global Functions, Pharma TechOps, Novartis (2015 – 2016)
  • Head Compensation & Benefits, Pharma Technical Operations, Novartis (2014 – 2015)
  • Performance Management and Compensation Leader, Roche (2006 – 2014)
  • Various Compensation and Sales Effectiveness roles at AMD, Wells Fargo, Phillip Morris, and Kodak (1998 – 2006)

Jean-Christophe Hyvert, Member of the Executive Committee
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Jean-Christophe Hyvert

President, Biologics (since January 2021) and Member of the Executive Committee (since April 2021)
Jean-Christophe Hyvert holds a master’s degree in Physics from INSA, Rennes (FR) and an MBA from the Northwestern University (USA).

Former Activities and Functions
  • President, Lonza Cell & Gene Division (2021 – 2022)
  • Chief Commercial Officer, Lonza Pharma Biotech & Nutrition Segment (2019 – 2020)
  • Vice President, Finance, Lonza Pharma & Biotech Segment (2017 – 2019)
  • Finance Director ECEMEA, Baxter International (2016 – 2017)
  • Senior Director EMEA Business Development, Baxter International (2015 – 2016)
  • Finance Director, Baxter International (2013 – 2014)
  • Various leadership positions in Finance and Operations at Newell Rubbermaid, Lehman Brothers and Legris (covering Corporate Development, M&A and Supply Chain) (1995 – 2013)

Gordon Bates, Member of the Executive Committee
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Gordon Bates

President, Small Molecules Division (since January 2021) and Member of the Executive Committee (since April 2021)
Gordon Bates holds a master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick (UK).

Former Activities and Functions
  • President, Lonza Chemical Division (2018 – 2020)
  • Senior Vice President, Business Unit Head, Lonza Chemical and Microbial Manufacturing (2015 – 2017)
  • Global Head of Sales, Lonza Pharma Custom Manufacturing (2013 – 2015)
  • Head of Operations and Site Manager, Lonza Slough (UK) (2007 – 2013)
  • Global Head of Lonza Operational Excellence (2003 – 2007)

Daniel Palmacci

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Daniel Palmacci

President, Cell & Gene (since November 2022) and Member of the Executive Committee (since November 2022)
Daniel Palmacci holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and Process Engineering with High Honors from the Technical University Berlin (DE).

Current Activities
  • Member of the Board of Directors, LOWENCO (since September 2022)
Former Activities and Functions
  • Senior Vice President, Global Head Technical Operations, MorphoSys (2020 – 2022)
  • Global Head Vaccines & Biologics Strategic Facility Creation, Merck Sharp & Dohme (2019 – 2020)
  • Global Head Drug Substance Biopharma Manufacturing / CEO Sandoz GmbH, Novartis (2018 – 2019)
  • Site Head, Drug Product Schaftenau, Novartis (2017 - 2018)
  • Global Head External Supplier Operations, Biopharma, Sandoz – Novartis (2015 – 2017)
  • Global Head Technical Operations, Biopharma, Sandoz – Novartis (2015)
  • Global Product Leader & Global Head Manufacturing, Science & Technology (MS&T), Sandoz – Novartis (2013 – 2015)
  • Head of Manufacturing, Bayer Healthcare (2008 – 2013)
  • Director of Operations – Plant Manager, Bayer Healthcare (2006 – 2008)
  • Various Project Manager and QA Manager roles at Berlex LCC, Schering AG, Schering do Brazil, ingea depotec and GTZ (1994 – 2006)

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Christian Seufert

President, Capsules & Health Ingredients Division (since July 2022) and Member of the Executive Committee (since July 2022)
Christian Seufert holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Hohenheim (DE).

Former Activities and Functions
  • Senior Vice President Pharma Solutions/Nutrition & Health Americas, BASF (2018-2022)
  • Vice President, Global Segment Management Aroma Ingredients, BASF (2015-2018)
  • Vice President, Regional Business Management Home Care, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning, Europe & EAWA, BASF (2012-2014)
  • Vice President/Director, Regional Business Management Formulation Technologies, North America, BASF (2009-2012)
  • Various regional and global leadership positions in Strategy, Sales and Marketing at BASF (2002-2009)
Former Members