Top 10: Leaders in Healthcare in the UK & Europe

Visionary leaders are essential to every sector - to drive innovation, sustainability and integrity. In healthcare, leadership with a focus on patient-centred care is essential. 

In this article we spotlight some of the most influential figures in the healthcare industry across the UK and Europe, who are shaping the future of medicine and patient care.

10. Simon Batt-Nauerz

Head of Infrastructure and Sustainability Management at Charité University Hospital

Germany

How can a large hospital be operated sustainably? That’s a question Simon Batt-Nauerz asks himself every day. Sustainable, climate-conscious business is an important component of the strategy at Charité University Hospital, in regards to staff and patients. 

Over the past two years he has been able to reduce food waste in patient care by 20% and in employee care by as much as 50%, saving 216 tonnes of CO2 annually.

It’s not just patients that the hospital takes care of, but also the bicycles used by staff. There is a bicycle clinic at the Charité Campus Mitte, Virchow Clinic and Benjamin Franklin, which ensures that all bikes are checked for roadworthiness and repaired, keeping staff safe on their commute.

9. Gijs Vissers

Head of Supply & Procurement at Nordic Pharma

Netherlands

Nordic Pharma is a privately owned pharma company, with a range of specialised products in therapeutic areas, including rheumatology, women’s health and critical care. 

Head of Supply & Procurement at Nordic Pharma, Gijs Vissers, has over two decades of national and international experience in supply chain, procurement, operations, multichannel product distribution and marketing, from family businesses to large corporations. Gijs previously worked at KPN and the Heineken Company. 

He recently completed his Stakeholder management for boards programme at The International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

8. Carlos Jaureguizar Ruiz-Jarabo 

CEO at Bupa Global

India & UK

Carlos Jaureguizar Ruiz-Jarabo aims to help people to live longer, healthier, happier lives and make a better world in the process. He has spent 18 years in management positions across health, finance, strategy and consulting. 

Now as Chief Executive Officer for Bupa Global, India & UK, a company he has been with for 15 years, he provides individuals, small businesses and corporate customers international coverage to access the healthcare they need, when they need it, whether at home or when studying, living, travelling or working abroad. Prior to this position, Carlos held roles as CFO of the Europe and Latin America (ELA) market unit and Executive Director of Strategy, M&A and eHealth.

7. Dr. Michael Moser 

Member of the Supervisory Board VAMED and Member of the Management Board, Fresenius Group

Germany

As the Fresenius Management Board Member, Michael is responsible for human resources, legal, compliance, risk management, ICS, corporate audit, sustainability and the business segment, Fresenius Vamed. 

At Fresenius, 190,000 employees advance medicine and healthcare, ensuring that patients all over the world have access to the right treatments. 

“We all show extraordinary care to our fellow humans when it comes to healthcare. This is why it is of utmost importance for me as a member of the Management Board, that all of our colleagues at Fresenius enjoy the opportunity of continuous personal and professional development,” Michael shared.

6. Diana Bracco

Bracco President and CEO

Italy

Diana Bracco is a leader in diagnostic imaging, with around 3,700 employees. The company invests 10% of reference turnover in the imaging diagnostics and medical devices sectors. 

After earning her degree in Chemistry at the University of Pavia, Diana began her career in the family company in 1966, becoming General Director in 1977 and CEO and President in 1999.

Diana is also the President and CEO of the Italian Diagnostics Center, an outpatient clinic with a focus on prevention. Diana’s passion for art has led her to become a member of advisory boards for the La Scala Philharmonic of Milan and the Poldi Pezzoli museum. In 2011, she became the first Italian in history to sit on the Trustee’s Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

5. Elcin Barker Ergun

CEO Menarini Group

Italy

The Menarini Group is an international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, working in 140 countries, in areas such as cardiology, oncology, infectious diseases and diabetes. Elcin is Member of the Board of Directors and CEO of Menarini Group. 

She studied computer engineering, earning a BSc degree from METU and an MBA from INSEAD, France. Following that, she spent over 20 years working in global, regional and local leadership roles across the pharma industry. 

Before entering Menarini Group, she was EVP, President of New Businesses at Merck KGaA Healthcare, where she supported external R&D collaborations in oncology and immunology to create new businesses. She also worked at Smithkline Beecham and Honeywell.

4. Amanda Pritchard 

CEO of the NHS

UK

After studying modern history at the University of Oxford, Amanda began working at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. Her healthcare career evolved into a seven year tenure at Guy's and St Thomas'​ NHS Foundation Trust, before she rose to become Chief Executive Officer of NHS England. 

Jacqui Rock, NHS England’s Chief Commercial Officer, spoke with Healthcare Digital to discuss procurement at the NHS. 

"We have the significant impact of the cost-of-living crisis, higher inflation, increasing energy prices and the overall pressure that not only the NHS and our people are feeling, but also pressures that are being felt across the entire country.”

Jacqui added that she felt confident in the priorities laid out by Amanda Pritchard for the NHS, ‘the four Rs’: Recovery, Resilience, Reform and Respect.

3. Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen

President and CEO at Novo Nordisk

Denmark

As CEO of Novo Nordisk, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen leads his 69,000 ‘talented colleagues to defeat serious chronic diseases’. The company has been pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to medicine and working ardently to prevent and cure diseases. 

In Lars’ 33 years at the company, he remains inspired by the company values, including its sustainability targets. He was recently invited to represent Novo Nordisk at a Senate hearing in the US, where he discussed the pricing differences between medicine for sale in the US compared to other countries. 

“I reaffirmed our focus on providing innovation, support and care for the people we serve. Importantly, I also expressed my frustration that even though we're working hard to make our treatments more affordable, patients aren't seeing the reduction in prices, all too often,” Lars said.

Lars called for real change and practical solutions for people living with chronic and misunderstood diseases like diabetes and obesity and shared his dream for Novo Nordisk in addressing threats to human health and global prosperity.

2. Vas Narasimhan 

CEO Novartis

Switzerland

Basel-based Novartis focuses on innovative medicine and is currently investing in cell and gene therapies. It is expanding its presence in emerging markets, including China, India, Turkey and Brazil.

Novartis is reimagining medicine with innovative science and technology, to address some of society’s most intractable and long-standing health issues. The company develops breakthrough treatments and is constantly looking for new ways to deliver them to those in need of treatment. 

“I never lose my sense of wonder at how science-based progress is leading to longer, healthier lives and a better world,” said CEO Vas Narasimhan. 

For Vas, ‘unbossed leadership’, where managers employ a hands-off approach with their team, is at the centre of it all.

“I believe it’s the kind of leadership that will enable humanity to overcome our greatest challenges and seize our most promising opportunities,” he said. 

1. Dr Thomas Schinecker

CEO Roche 

Switzerland

Swiss multinational healthcare company Roche was founded in 1896 and operates globally under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. 

Under the leadership of Dr Thomas Schinecker, the global Roche team is guided by science in its commitment to people, partners, stakeholders and patients. 

Thomas joined Roche in 2003, impressed with the company’s unwavering dedication to prioritising patient well-being. He reached the CEO position in 2023.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work all over the world – from Asia to the USA, and here at home in Europe – with many wonderful people. These diverse experiences have shaped me as a person and as a professional, and I’m committed to working together to advance medicine and diagnostics and positively impact patients’ lives,” he shared.

******

Make sure you check out the latest industry news and insights at Healthcare Digital and also sign up to our global conference series - Tech & AI LIVE 2024

******

Healthcare Digital is a BizClik brand