Collaborative integrated scientific discovery chief appointed.

Symeres the leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), and Axxam, provider of biology-driven discovery services, have announced the appointment of Russell Thomas, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer to drive a joint collaboration between Symeres and Axxam that combines the unique R&D services offering of both organizations.

Dr Russell Thomas

The appointment strengthens the scientific leadership of both Symeres and Axxam as they continue to build a closely connected, science-led offering for pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. By bringing together the complementary capabilities of both organizations, customers can receive support across integrated discovery and development programs. The integrated solutions offered span all the way from target assessment, screening and testing, lead identification and optimization all the way to development candidate nomination and IND ready packages.

As CSO, Thomas will help shape and execute the scientific strategy of Symeres and Axxam, as well as working closely with scientific and commercial teams across both companies. His role will include supporting the development of integrated client solutions, connecting scientific capabilities, and identifying opportunities to further strengthen the combined discovery and development capabilities. The appointment comes as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies increasingly seek partners able to provide solutions, that connects scientific support across the drug discovery and development continuum.

Symeres and Axxam will provide customers with integrated access to a palette of scientific expertise, established R&D platforms and long-standing teams across Europe and the US. The collaboration brings together the unique scientific depth, specialist capabilities and practical delivery mindset of Symeres and Axxam to meet the needs of increasingly complex customer programs. Their shared commitment to high-quality science and practical collaboration will deliver lasting value for partners.

Thomas returns to Symeres after a year supporting growing biotech and biomaterials companies. As well as his experience at Axxam and Symeres, he has held scientific and leadership positions at organizations including GSK, Evotec, Siena Biotech, and Proteros. His wealth of experience spanning the entire R&D value chain will be a significant advantage to customers discovery and development programs.

“Returning as Chief Scientific Officer feels very exciting as it connects two parts of a story. Having spent important parts of my career at both Symeres and Axxam, I’m excited to help bring together expert led complementary science, strong transatlantic teams and a shared mindset to support partners and projects in a truly integrated way,” said Thomas.

Thomas first joined Symeres in January 2020 as Head of Business Development and later served as Chief Scientific Officer. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing strategic customer relationships and strengthening the company’s scientific profile across the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Before joining Symeres, Thomas served as Director of Discovery Research and later Director of Strategic Alliances at Axxam. He helped establish and manage the integrated medicinal chemistry relationship with Symeres, giving him a deep understanding of both organizations ensuring he is aligned to the scientific and cultural foundations customers value.

“Russell’s appointment reflects our commitment to building value for customers that matches their drug discovery and development needs,” said Henning Steinhagen, CEO of Symeres. “As customer programs become more complex, scientific leadership that can connect capabilities, people and platforms across organizations becomes increasingly important. Russell brings a rare combination of scientific expertise, industry experience and first-hand knowledge of both Symeres and Axxam, together with a strong understanding of how to translate early discovery projects into preclinical development and beyond. This makes him ideally placed to help us deliver value for customers and support our long-term growth strategy.”

“Russell’s appointment is aligned to the vision of integrated discovery and development linking two organisations that know each other well. The common objective is to develop faster and better drugs for the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately improve patient’s lives” said Ciriaco Maraschiello, CEO of Axxam. “Russell’s appointment is an important step in strengthening the connection between both companies, with his experience providing a valuable perspective on how to connect scientific capabilities to customer needs. Having worked within both Axxam and Symeres, he understands the strengths, culture and potential of each organisation, and is well placed to support the growth of both companies.”

---

 #symeres #Axxam#Pharma #Research

New drug discovery & development head.

The appointment of Henning Steinhagen as Chief Executive Officer has been announced by Symeres, the leading transatlantic CRDMO for drug discovery and development. This marks a key transition as the company scales its operations and broadens its market reach.

Dr Henning Steinhagen

Dr. Steinhagen succeeds Guillaume Jetten, who has served as CEO and played a key role in strengthening the company’s operational and scientific foundations during a period of growth and transformation.

The appointment marks a planned transition in leadership structure to continue to build on the company’s success. A combination of organic growth and targeted acquisitions has led Symeres to evolve into a fully integrated transatlantic partner, bringing together more than 500 scientists across nine global sites with decades of multidisciplinary expertise in chemistry, biology, ADME-tox and CMC. Dr Steinhagen has a strong scientific background and commercial experience to drive positive business impact for Symeres in its next phase of growth.

Building on this foundation, Dr. Steinhagen will focus on advancing Symeres’ vision of being a crucial partner from discovery through development with its “One Symeres” integrated platform that serves strategic partnerships across biotech and pharma. His scientific background also aligns with the company’s widely recognised scientific expertise.

As a seasoned CEO, board director and R&D executive, Dr. Steinhagen brings more than 25 years of experience across pharma, biotech and the CRO/CDMO sector. He joins from Lario Therapeutics, where he served as CEO and co-founder, as well as Venture Partner at Epidarex Capital. His previous positions include President R&D at Aptuit, where he was a key member of the leadership team responsible for the company’s growth and successful sale to Evotec AG in 2017. Prior to that he acted as SVP and Head of Global Drug Discovery at Grünenthal and held senior roles at Sanofi-Aventis and Bayer Pharma.

Henning Steinhagen holds a PhD in Chemistry and earned an executive MBA degree from the IMD in Lausanne in 2018.

“I was drawn to Symeres because of its unique capabilities and legacy in delivering and supporting biopharma from inception to IND,” said Dr. Steinhagen. “The team brings together deep scientific depth and a way of working that is genuinely collaborative and responsive.”

He added: “With strong foundations in place, the opportunity ahead is to fully realize and unlock the power of integrated services across chemistry and biology. The goal is to create best-in-class solutions to rapidly advance even the most challenging programs for the benefit of our customers and ultimately patients.”

“Recently, we have made strong progress in bringing together our teams, capabilities and culture into one organization,” said Guillaume Jetten. “We are now seeing clear validation from our customers, who value the continuity, scientific depth and collaborative approach we offer. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and confident that Dr. Steinhagen will build on this momentum and lead Symeres through its next phase of growth.”

---

#symeres #Pharma 

Information security.

As scientific collaboration becomes increasingly digital and globally interconnected, amid rising cybersecurity threats and evolving AI-driven risks, biopharmaceutical companies are demanding more robust data protection protocols from outsourcing partners.

Symeres has been awarded ISO/IEC 27001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for information security management systems (ISMS). This certification reinforces the company’s proactive commitment to safeguarding sensitive client data across its global operations.

Gabriella Gentile

“Cybersecurity is no longer a back-office issue; it is central to the success of every client program,” said Gabriella Gentile, Chief Operating Officer at Symeres. “Our ISO 27001 certification gives clients, from biotech startups to large pharmaceutical companies, the assurance that their proprietary data, often the ‘crown jewels’ of development, is protected within a robust and continuously improving security framework.”

While Symeres has long operated with strong internal protocols, the decision to pursue formal certification arose from a rising volume of security questionnaires from clients, financial institutions, and regulators.

For many large pharmaceutical companies, information security assessments are now a standard part of onboarding. ISO 27001 certification allows Symeres to address the majority of these requirements upfront, significantly streamlining due diligence processes. By reducing administrative friction, project teams can focus more quickly on what matters most: advancing client programs and delivering scientific impact.

“This journey began two years ago as part of our continuous improvement culture,” added Mark Verhaar, Project Manager at Symeres. “We identified our highest information risk areas, developed risk-based policies, and created a formal, auditable system for managing access, backups, and incident response. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about building a culture of vigilance and continuous improvement, ensuring that our security practices evolve alongside the scientific and digital complexity of our clients’ programs.”

Symeres is well-positioned to support the needs of both established pharmaceutical clients and smaller biotechs that may rely on its expertise to navigate complex data governance now that ISO 2700 is in place. The certification also supports broader industry compliance efforts, including the EU’s NIS2 Directive, which identifies healthcare organizations as vital operators.

Key elements of Symeres’s information security framework include:

• Formalised, audited policies for data access, backup, and breach response
• Continuous employee awareness programs to mitigate human error
• Controlled information sharing protocols with third-party partners and clients
• Ongoing internal audits and yearly external surveillance to maintain certification

The company is progressing with the rollout of ISO 27001 certification across its sites globally, with completion targeted before the end of the year. This phased implementation ensures consistent standards across the Group while maintaining operational continuity.

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, maintaining high security standards will remain a priority. Guillaume Jetten, Chief Executive Officer at Symeres, commented: “In today’s environment, ISO 27001 is a non-negotiable foundation for doing business with large pharmaceutical companies and innovative biotechs. Achieving this certification cements Symeres’ status as a leading global CDMOs operating with full transparency and accountability.”

---

#symeres #Pharma #CyberSecurity 

Drug discovery and development company appointment.

Symeres has announced the appointment of Jurgen Berendsen as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), marking a significant return to the company after a successful tenure as Senior Group Controller.

Jurgen Berendsen

Berendsen brings more than 15 years of financial leadership experience across both professional services and international trade sectors, including time at KPMG, Hoogwegt International, and most recently Royal Reesink, where he served as Vice President of Finance and Control. He returns to Symeres at a pivotal time, driven by a strong belief in the company’s mission and potential. Berendsen brings not only deep institutional knowledge, but also valuable external perspective gained from leading finance functions in other complex organisations.

“Returning to Symeres as CFO is an extremely exciting opportunity,” said Jurgen Berendsen. “Symeres has all the ingredients for long-term growth and success. I am proud to join a strong and dedicated leadership team who is unwaveringly committed to delivering optimal outcomes for customers, employees, and shareholders alike.”

Berendsen previously joined Symeres in 2022 to take on the newly created role of Group Financial Controller. During his time at the company, he played a key role in the implementation of major transformation programs, including finance systems (ERP) upgrades, compliance initiatives, and business continuity planning. His close collaboration with the board and hands-on approach during the company’s restructuring phase earned him wide respect across the organisation.

“Jurgen’s appointment comes at a critical moment for Symeres as we strengthen our operational and financial foundations to scale more effectively,” said Guillaume Jetten, CEO of Symeres. “He combines strategic vision with a deep understanding of our business and culture. His return brings continuity and a partner mindset that will benefit the whole organisation.”

In his new role, Berendsen will oversee financial operations across Symeres’ global footprint, working closely with the executive team to support sustainable growth. His focus will be on building financial resilience, driving operational integration across sites in the Netherlands, Finland, and the U.S., and championing transparency and trust, both internally and with clients.

Reflecting on his decision to return, Berendsen cited a belief in the mission and a shared vision for how Symeres can adapt to market challenges and emerge stronger. “The tone at the top is vital, but equally important is how we translate that transparency and accountability across every customer interaction,” he said.

With an ambition to drive long-term customer partnerships and innovate, such as AI and integrated delivery models, Berendsen’s financial stewardship is expected to be instrumental in Symeres’ evolution as a best-in-class partner for biopharma organisations worldwide.

---

#Symeres #Pharma #research

New COO to drive transatlantic growth.

Strengthens organisation for drug discovery and development.

Symeres has appointed Gabriella Gentile as Chief Operating Officer (COO). This strategic addition to the executive team supports Symeres’ transatlantic growth ambitions, building upon its strong foundations in existing and novel modalities.

Gabriella Gentile

Gabriella brings more than 25 years of international experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and services industries. She has held senior roles at Catalent, Roche and Aptuit, where she led major transformation programs focused on operational performance, lean methodologies, and change management.

In her new role, Gabriella will lead the transformation of global operations at Symeres, focusing on expanding capabilities across the pharmaceutical value chain from inception to investigational new drug (IND). She will apply her proven leadership to align business operations with measurable performance outcomes, reinforcing Symeres’ commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

“I’m delighted to join Symeres at this exciting time in their growth," said Gabriella Gentile, “Symeres operates under a cultural philosophy of openness and transparency, and I look forward to being part of developing new next generation therapies”. She added, “I am ambitious in my expectations of how my global operational experience can positively impact Symeres’ growth targets and I’m committed to delivering outstanding customer experiences. Symeres’ growth trajectory makes this an exciting time to join.”

Guillaume Jetten, Symeres CEO, added “I’m delighted that Gabriella has accepted this position. ‘Gabriella brings a set of highly relevant skills and experience from both her background in medicinal chemistry, but also her decades of large Pharma and biotech experience that will support the future growth plans of Symeres”. 

Most recently, Gabriella served as global improvement director at Catalent, where she developed and implemented standardized operational frameworks across multiple sites. Prior to that, she consulted independently on global change and operational excellence programs, helping organizations improve performance and implement strategic business initiatives.

Her appointment marks another significant step in Symeres’ expansion strategy, as the company positions itself as a global biotechnology leader bridging European innovation and American market presence.

---

 #symeres #Pharma #Americas