Rebecca Guntern

President Europe

Since becoming President Europe at Sandoz in 2020, Rebecca Guntern has been driving the company’s European commercial organization which accounts for 50% of the company’s global revenue, all the while setting a vision that aims to bring sustainable and affordable medicines to market for patients. In this role Rebecca has been responsible for the development and execution of the European-wide business strategy across over 40 countries.

With roughly one billion packs sold in the region every year, Rebecca leads an ambitious team which plays a critical role in driving the sustainability of the European Healthcare system and, as a trained pharmacist, she is a regular contributor to industry discussions and initiatives, driving debate and reform in areas such as biosimilars, supply chain solutions, regulatory and economic policies and empowering women in business. 

Rebecca is viewed as a hugely influential figure within the global generic and biosimilar medicine landscape. She was recently appointed as Vice-President of Medicines for Europe which represents pharmaceutical companies supplying those medicines across Europe. 

Together with my colleagues in more than 40 European countries we share the same understanding of “why” we go to work every day - pioneering access to high quality and affordable medicines for patients.

Prior to joining Sandoz in 2007, she worked with other leading pharmaceutical companies such as Roche and Merck Sharpe & Dohme. She has also shaped the development initiative for women, Advance – Women in Business, which works with companies to coach and promote young female talent in middle management, overseeing a range of mentoring programs and events that support women to build a broad network across company boundaries. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s achievements as a leader within Sandoz are underscored by the company receiving certification as a Top Employer in Europe on a number of occasions. Moreover, she has been frequently nominated as one of the Top 100 women in business in Switzerland.

Nationality: Swiss | Year of birth: 1972

Professional experience

  • Head of Cluster I Europe, Sandoz, Switzerland (2018-2019)
  • Head of BACH (Belgium, Austria and Switzerland), Sandoz, Switzerland (2015-2018)
  • Head KAM and Commercial Excellence WEMEA (Western Europe, Middle East and Africa), Sandoz, Germany and Switzerland (2013-2015)
  • Country Head Spain, Sandoz, Spain (2011-2013
  • Country Head Switzerland, Sandoz, Switzerland (2008-2011)
  • National Sales Manager, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Switzerland (2003-2006)
  • Marketing Manager Rheumatology, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Switzerland (2002-2003)
  • Product Manager Infectiology, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Switzerland (2000-2002)
  • Sales Representative, Roche, Switzerland (1999-2000)
  • Clinical Research Monitor, Roche, Switzerland (1998-1999)

Mandates

  • Vice-President, Medicines for Europe, Belgium
  • Board member, BKW AG, Switzerland
  • Board member, Société Suisse des Explosifs, Switzerland (2016-2019)
  • Board member, Advance – Gender Equality in Business, Switzerland (2015-2019)

Education

  • Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Bern, Switzerland
  • Master of Pharmacy, University of Basel, Switzerland
  • Bachelor of Business, Graduate School of Business Administration Zurich, Switzerland