Ipsen Announces Key Leadership Appointment for North American Operations
PARIS, FRANCE – In a significant move to strengthen its leadership in the North American market, global biopharmaceutical company Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) has announced the appointment of Michelle C. Werner as Executive Vice President (EVP) and President of North America. This appointment will take effect on March 23, 2026, marking a strategic addition to the company's executive team.
Executive Leadership Team Expansion
Michelle C. Werner will serve on Ipsen's Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and will report directly to the company's Chief Executive Officer, David Loew. This placement underscores the importance of the North American market in Ipsen's global strategy and growth plans.
"I am very pleased to welcome Michelle to Ipsen and to the Executive Leadership Team," declared David Loew, CEO of Ipsen. "She brings a wealth of experience in leading teams both in the U.S. and around the world and has a deep understanding of the United States and all the great opportunities that this market offers for Ipsen at a moment when we are accelerating the growth of our portfolio in rare diseases, oncology and neurosciences. These are therapeutic areas where Michelle has excelled over her extensive career."
Extensive Pharmaceutical Background
Michelle Werner joins Ipsen from Alltrna, a U.S.-based biotechnology company where she has served as President and CEO since 2022. Her career in the pharmaceutical industry spans more than 25 years, beginning at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).
Her professional journey includes:
- Starting in sales and commercial teams in the UK at country level with BMS
- Marketing roles for the EMEA region within BMS's Oncology division
- Appointment as Director for Global Market Access for Oncology & Virology portfolios in 2009
- Serving as Global Brand Lead for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) portfolio in 2011
- Becoming U.S. Brand Lead for Reyataz® and Evotaz® franchises in 2014
In 2015, Werner moved to AstraZeneca where she served as Head of the Immuno-Oncology franchise & Oncology business unit in the U.S., overseeing several major product launches. She was appointed Country President for the Nordics & Baltics based in Sweden in 2018 before returning to the U.S. as Global Franchise Head for Hematology in 2020.
Most recently, she served as Global Franchise Head for Solid Tumors at Novartis Oncology starting in July 2020 before joining Alltrna.
Strategic Vision for North American Operations
"I am thrilled to be joining the Executive Leadership Team and look forward to leading Ipsen's operations and teams in the United States at such a fascinating moment of the company's transformation," said Michelle Werner. "Joining a company that brings together two therapeutic areas where I have deep passion and expertise such as rare diseases and oncology, is one of those unique opportunities that comes at the right time in my journey. I look forward to working with the team to make a beneficial impact for the patients we serve."
Leadership Transition
Keira Driansky, the current EVP and President for North America, will be leaving the company to pursue external opportunities. During her two-year tenure at Ipsen, Driansky led an important transformation of the U.S. affiliate, increasing growth in U.S. sales and enhancing the visibility of Ipsen's brand in the American market. The company has expressed gratitude for her contributions during her time with the organization.
About Ipsen
Ipsen is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing transformative medicines to patients in three key therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. The company's pipeline benefits from both internal and external innovation, supported by nearly a century of development experience and global hubs located in the U.S., France and the U.K.
With teams operating in more than 40 countries and strategic partnerships around the world, Ipsen is positioned to deliver medicines to patients in over 100 countries globally. The appointment of Michelle C. Werner represents a strategic move to strengthen the company's presence and performance in the crucial North American market as it continues to expand its portfolio in rare diseases, oncology and neurosciences.
