Daiichi Sankyo Inc. announced that Ken Keller will join the company as president of its commercial operations in the United States starting May 1, 2014. In his role, Keller will be responsible for leading marketing, sales, medical affairs and supply chain operations for Daiichi Sankyo in the United States.

 

“We are very pleased to welcome Ken Keller into the Daiichi Sankyo family,” said Joji Nakayama, president and CEO of Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., the parent company of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. “Ken brings with him more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience, with career highlights including building a $3 billion business unit as well as leading commercialization for four of the world’s top selling biologic medicines. His broad experience and proven success will be a tremendous asset to Daiichi Sankyo.” 

 

Most recently, Keller was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for global commercial, medical, research and development and manufacturing.  Also responsible for business development at Spectrum, he was integral to the successful acquisition and integration of Talon Therapeutics into the company.

 

Prior to Spectrum, Keller spent 21 years at Amgen rising through the organization as a respected leader in sales and marketing, general management and joint ventures.  He brings with him deep experience in several therapeutic areas aligned with Daiichi Sankyo’s focus, including oncology and primary care medicines.  His most recent appointments at Amgen were as vice president and general manager for two of the company’s highly successful business units (bone health and inflammation), as well as managing director at Amgen Ltd. in the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

 

With the appointment of Keller as the head of commercial operations at Daiichi Sankyo Inc., Dr. Glenn Gormley will assume the role of executive chairman and president, Daiichi Sankyo Inc., and will retain his roles as president of Daiichi Sankyo Pharma Development and as the global head of R&D for Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.  Greg Barrett, who served as interim president for commercial operations for the past seven months, will remain vice president of marketing and managed markets at Daiichi Sankyo Inc.

 

Date: April 18, 2014

Source: Daiichi Sankyo