London, 22 August 2025

Tell us about your background. What first inspired you to pursue a career in science and pharmaceuticals?

At school, I was always fascinated by chemistry. I had an excellent teacher, someone with a PhD in chemistry, which was very unusual for high school. His lessons were incredibly inspiring and sparked a curiosity in me.

I also remember in my hometown of Hanover; there was also a large exhibition on pharmacy and chemistry that made a big impression. At that time, I was working in the travel industry, but the pull toward science was too strong to ignore. I decided to pursue chemistry at university, where I completed both my diploma and PhD.

My research focused on molecules and their impact on the human body. In fact, my PhD thesis explored organic synthesis and the study of cancer molecules, specifically cytotoxic and cytostatic compounds. Understanding how molecules work, their toxicity, and their potential to help patients inspired me and set me on the path toward pharmaceuticals.

What stands out to you from your time at Hikma?

Even during my very first interview with Hikma, I felt inspired. What impressed me immediately was the focus on continuous learning. No matter your educational background, you are expected to keep growing, keep developing, and keep striving to deliver better outcomes, and this resonates well with me.

When I joined, I saw firsthand that if you are willing to learn, work hard, and stay committed to the objectives, you can build an incredible career here. You can move across departments, expand your knowledge, and see how everything in pharmaceuticals connects, from quality assurance to production to supply chain.

A defining moment for me came after my second year at Hikma, when I started to see the "bigger picture." It was no longer just theory from university, it was seeing and understand the real-world collaboration of all disciplines, working together to manufacture high-quality medicines for patients. This perspective of the bigger picture has always stayed with me.

And some of my greatest memories are seeing colleagues grow, watching people take on more responsibility and thrive. It’s inspiring to see the people around you flourish.

How would you describe your leadership style?

For me, leadership is about people. Every team member is different, some thrive with independence, while others prefer closer guidance. My role as a leader is to recognise those differences and adapt.

What matters most is making people feel part of a community. They need to know they are valued and that their contribution makes a difference. When people feel supported and understood, they give their best, and that’s when the team succeeds together.

What advice would you give to young professionals or students considering a career in this industry?

If you study science in Germany, or anywhere, you receive excellent technical training. But science alone is not enough. My advice is to broaden your learning beyond your core field. Take courses in management, leadership, communication, and corporate skills.

Technical expertise will get you started, but what will help you grow in your career is your ability to work across disciplines, manage people, and understand the bigger business context. At Hikma, we value this balance of scientific excellence and continuous personal development.

How does Hikma make a difference in the region?

One of Hikma’s greatest strengths is our reliability as a trusted supplier. Our partners know they can depend on the quality of our medicines.

Even in moments of disruption in the area, we have been able to supply medicines locally when others could not. This reliability is something we are extremely proud of. It reflects our purpose: to put better health within reach, every day.

How do you feel you’ve made an impact in your role?

I tend to see my impact as part of the collective, rather than as an individual. This industry is vast, and progress always comes from teamwork.

As General Manager, what makes me proud is when external visitors, people who have known our site for years, see how far we’ve come. The progress we’ve made across all areas is the result of a strong, committed team.

I am from this region, and I care deeply about this company, but I am nothing without my team. 

What fuels your passion for this work?

What drives me every day is the potential I see in our people and our site. There is always room to improve, to innovate, and to reach higher. But ultimately, my passion comes back to the patients. I have lost close family members to illness, so I know personally how critical, access to medicine can be. To know that our work can make a difference for patients, fuels my commitment.

At Hikma, we work at pace, we collaborate across borders, and we are led by inspiring leaders. That combination is powerful, and it motivates me to give my best every day.