Who’s News in Pharma is A4-Nieuws’ weekly update on appointments, promotions, leadership changes and other notable people moves across the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.

This week’s edition covers executive and regulatory leadership changes at KD Pharma Group, QIAGEN, the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration.

KD Pharma Group has appointed Manja Boerman as chief executive, succeeding interim co-CEOs Adam Ismail and Thomas Strauch, who return to their posts as chief commercial officer and chief financial officer respectively.

Ms Boerman brings more than two decades of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and manufacturing. Her previous employers include Catalent Pharma Solutions, Patheon Biologics, Kiadis Pharma and DSM Pharmaceutical Products; most recently she was interim chief executive of Prothya Biosolutions.

She takes charge of KD Pharma, a German-based specialist in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical omega-3 lipids, at a time when the company says it is seeking to strengthen its financial position after a turbulent period for the industry.

QIAGEN has chosen Jonathan M. Pratt as its next chief executive. He will take over on September 1st from Thierry Bernard, who is stepping down after six years at the helm and will remain until the end of the year to assist with the transition.

Mr Pratt most recently ran Filtration Group and has previously held senior positions at Waters, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and Pall. His appointment follows a nine-month search.

QIAGEN, a Dutch-headquartered maker of molecular-diagnostics and life-sciences products, says its new boss will be charged with sharpening commercial execution and improving operational performance. The firm is also conducting a strategic review.

The European Medicines Agency has given Melanie Carr, head of its Stakeholders and Communication Division, the additional duties of deputy executive director. She succeeds Ivo Claassen, who retired at the end of July.

Ms Carr will deputise for Emer Cooke, the EMA’s executive director, when required. Her expanded brief also includes strategic oversight of IT security, alongside crisis and emergency management.

The appointment gives a communications executive an unusually broad operational role at Europe’s medicines regulator.

The European Medicines Agency has separately appointed Franck Fourès to lead its Veterinary Medicines Division from September 1st. He joins from France’s Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV), where he was director.

Mr Fourès has spent more than two decades working in veterinary public health and medicines regulation at national, European and international level.

He also knows the institution he is joining: for the past four years he has served as an alternate member of the EMA’s management board. He succeeds Ivo Claassen.

America’s medicines regulator may soon acquire two more senior officials. The Department of Health and Human Services is planning to create deputy-commissioner roles covering technology, including artificial intelligence, and drugs, according to reports this week.

Jared Seehafer is said to be the leading candidate for the technology job. No candidate for the drugs post has yet been disclosed, and neither appointment has been formally announced.

The prospective changes come amid a broader reshuffling at the FDA. Heidi Overton, a White House policy adviser, has been nominated to lead the agency and awaits Senate confirmation. Kyle Diamantas is serving as acting commissioner following Marty Makary’s departure in May.

Whoever ultimately fills the new posts will join a regulator whose leadership has become almost as closely watched by drugmakers as its decisions on their medicines.

Who’s News in Pharma tracks material leadership changes across pharma, biotech, diagnostics, CROs, CDMOs and regulators including the FDA, EMA and MHRA. Priority is given to senior appointments, departures, promotions and moves that illuminate how influence and expertise travel through the life-sciences industry.