UAE – Vitor Papao has taken over as the new General Manager of Gilead Sciences’ Middle East operations.
Relocating closer to the company’s regional headquarters in Dubai, Vitor Papao will be responsible for Gilead Sciences’ overall business operations across the Middle East.
He succeeds Sebnem Girgin, General Manager of Turkey, who has been serving as the interim Middle East head over the past few months.
Upon being notified of his appointment, the incoming General Manager stated: “I am delighted to take on this challenge and lead a dynamic region such as the Middle East.”
Vitor Papao outlined that the Middle East region is a leader in adopting innovations to support patient-centered care, noting that the region is a rapidly growing market with significant growth potential for Gilead.
“In the Middle East, the Gilead Sciences team has been delivering innovative treatments to prevent, treat and cure life-threatening diseases such as HIV, cancer, and viral hepatitis, supporting more than 96000 patients between 2014 and 2022,” he asserted.
Vitor brings a wealth of expertise and experience in the company’s operations, serving in global marketing, sales, and marketing operations, people management, brand management, and hospital negotiations.
He has been Gilead’s top deputy for years, from taking charge as the Sales Director in Portugal to managing international remits in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Since joining Gilead in 2007, he has progressed through multiple leadership positions at the American biopharmaceutical company.
The incoming General manager also served as Gilead’s Business Unit Director for HIV in 2008, and Commercial Lead for various therapy areas, starting in 2012 and lasting until 2015.
In March 2015, Vitor was promoted to the position of General Manager of Gilead Portugal and he led the affiliate toward success as it launched a full FTAF portfolio.
Prior to his latest stint, Vitor Papao led Gilead Sciences Russia as an interim General Manager, ensuring patients’ access to essential, life-saving medicine at a critical time in 2022.
Moreover, he is a seasoned medical sales representative with close to two decades of experience across various multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
In his new role, Vitor will work closely with the Gilead Sciences team in the Middle East, where the biotech has employed approximately 55 people, to drive growth in 12 key markets in the Gulf region.
Vitor Papao will oversee the development of the California-based company’s ongoing clinical trials across a broad variety of therapeutic areas.
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