Industry news: New management for Pharmaceutical Council of South Africa

The new PIASA Exco. Back row: Deon Vos, CE, Merck; Dhiren Mehta, CEO, Sekunjalo Health Care; Ralph Klingmann, CEO, Solvay Pharma; Ashley Pearce, CEO, Schering-Plough; Richard de Chastelain, Country Division Head: Southern Africa, Bayer Schering Pharma; and Kobus Venter, CEO, Janssen-Cilag. Front row: Dr Guni Goolab, CEO, Astra Zeneca; Jay Hooghuis, CEO, Wyeth SA; Karim El-Alaoui, General Manager: Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline South Africa; and Dr Jonathan Louw, CEO, Adcock Ingram.

Ashley Pearce, CEO of Schering-Plough, has been elected President of the Pharmaceutical Industry Association of South Africa (PIASA). Pearce has over 22 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked for multinational companies in South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the former Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (PMA) in 2004 and to the President's Council in 2005.

PIASA is an industry body established in November 2006 with a broad representation of both foreign multinational and local pharmaceutical companies, drawn from the former PMA membership and local/ generic manufacturers. PIASA's objective is to safeguard the interests of members with the goal of promoting a favourable environment for the provision of quality medicines, with the ultimate aim of saving lives and improving the quality of life for all South Africans.

Also elected to the new Management Council are Karim El-Alaoui: General Manager: Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline South Africa, and Dr Jonathan Louw: CEO, Adcock Ingram.

Member companies elect a new executive each May and the new strategic committee heads are as follows:
•Communications - Richard de Chastelain: Country Division Head: Southern Africa, Bayer Schering Pharma.
•Generics / Local Manufacture - Dr Jonathan Louw: CEO, Adcock Ingram.
•Government Affairs / Policy - Ashley Pearce: CEO, Schering-Plough.
•Health Outcomes - Jay Hooghuis: CEO, Wyeth SA.
•Marketing - Deon Vos: Chief Executive, Merck.
•Regulatory & Clinical / IP - Kobus Venter: CEO, Janssen-Cilag.
•Science & Technology - Karim El-Alaoui: General Manager: Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline South Africa.
•Transformation - Dhiren Mehta: CEO, Sekunjalo Healthcare.

“New challenges necessitate a continual review of our priorities and activities,” says Vicki Ehrich, Chief Operating Officer of PIASA. “The dedication of our members who lead the activities of the association on behalf of the broader membership is invaluable in achieving our goals.”