JAPAN —FUJIFILM Corporation, a prominent contract development and manufacturing organization, has appointed Lars Petersen as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, effective immediately.
Petersen succeeds Martin Meeson, who held the position since 2020.
With an extensive background spanning over 30 years in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors, Petersen brings a wealth of operational and leadership expertise to his new role.
Previously, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies in Hillerød, Denmark, where he also led the company’s strategic business unit focused on large-scale operations.
Notably, Petersen played a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s global expansions in Hillerød and Holly Springs, North Carolina, which involved a substantial investment of US$6.2 billion.
Additionally, he successfully implemented FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ Climate Strategy, aligning it with Fujifilm’s Sustainable Value Plan 2030.
Before joining FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Petersen held leadership positions at renowned organizations, including Biogen, Novo Nordisk, and Genentech/Roche.
Toshi Iida, Corporate Vice President of FUJIFILM Corporation and chairman of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, expressed confidence in Petersen’s abilities, stating, “Lars is a visionary leader known for delivering exceptional operational and financial results, as well as creating long-term value for our Bio CDMO customers.”
Iida highlighted Petersen’s profound understanding of the organization, extensive industry experience, and strong background in biopharmaceuticals, positioning him as the ideal candidate to lead FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies through its next phase of growth and development as a leading partner in advancing medical solutions.
FUJIFILM has set ambitious targets for its Bio CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) business, aiming to achieve an annual revenue of 200 billion yen (US$1.4 billion) by the end of the fiscal year in March 2025.
Furthermore, the company projects an annual growth rate of 20% for the Bio CDMO business beyond March 2026.
This growth outlook is driven by various factors, including the incorporation of new process capabilities, expanded in-house capacity, inflation considerations, and the rising global demand for large-scale mammalian production capacity.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies operates a global network with major facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.
The company is also constructing a new manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA. With over three decades of experience in developing and manufacturing a wide range of biopharmaceuticals, such as recombinant proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, viral products, and medical countermeasures, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies remains at the forefront of innovation.
In the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, the company achieved global revenues of approximately 2.9 trillion yen (equivalent to US$21 billion at an exchange rate of 134 yen/dollar).
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