Chairman Sten Scheibye steps down from the BioInnovation Institute Foundation’s (BII) Board of Directors and will be replaced by Vice-Chair Marianne Philip.
The new Chair, Marianne Philip, has served on the Board of BII since it was established as an independent Foundation in December 2020.
Departing Chair Sten Scheibye has played a key role in the birth and development of BII from the very beginning. As Lars Rebien Sørensen, Chair of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, notes: “BII was launched under Sten Scheibye’s chairmanship in the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and when it was spun out from the Novo Nordisk Foundation after a three-year establishment phase, he was elected Chair of the new BII Foundation’s Board of Directors. I want to thank Sten for his important role as chairman and for helping to bring the vision behind BII into life.”
Sten Scheibye adds: “With my great passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, it has been very rewarding to be part of the journey with BII until this day. Management has worked hard to achieve the results we witness today, and my Board colleagues have added significant value in the process, which I am grateful for”.
“With more than 80 start-ups to date, BII has demonstrated how important this initiative has been to strengthen the Life Science ecosystem and help transition great research at the universities into new companies”, says Marianne Philip. “As the new chair, I look forward to continuing the work Sten has carried out since the birth of BII. I also want to warmly thank Sten and the three leaving board members for their great contributions and welcome our new member to the board”.
Other changes in the Board
With Marianne taking over as Chair of the Board, board member Robert Urban will be appointed as the new Vice-Chair.
In addition to Sten Scheibye, three other members will be leaving BII’s Board, namely Bo Ahrén and Thomas Schäfer – both have served since August 2018 – and Birgitte Nauntofte, who was appointed when BII became an independent foundation in 2020.
One new member has been elected to the board: Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
After the changes, the Board will consist of Marianne Philip, Chair, Robert Urban, Vice-Chair, Martin Bonde, Regina Hodits, Hans Schambye and Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.
About Marianne Philip:
An attorney at law and Partner at Kromann Reumert as well as adjunct professor, Marianne Philip has wide-ranging expertise in company and foundation law, investments and corporate governance. In addition, she has extensive board experience and is currently Chair of the Committee on Foundation Governance. She has been a member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2014, serving as Vice-Chair since 2018, though she will step down from this position in connection with her appointment as Chair of BII.
About Robert Urban:
With a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, Robert has over 25 years of international experience in the healthcare industry, including as Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LLC. He was previously the CEO of Acretia Inc. and has also held founding and executive positions at ZYCOS Inc and Pangaea Pharmaceuticals. Robert has served on the board of various companies and not-for-profit organizations. He has been a BII Board member since January 2019.
About Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen:
A. Professor, DVM, PhD, DSc, Mads has been CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since March 2021. Prior to that he spent three decades in Novo Nordisk A/S, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. During his time at Novo Nordisk, Mads has overseen the development and approval of more than 20 medicinal products. Mads is currently also a member of the Board of BB Biotech AG and has served as Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen since 2000.