Hervé Hoppenot, former president of Novartis Oncology, has been named President and CEO of Incyte, Inc., Wilmington, effective immediately.
Hoppenot, who also will join the Incyte Board of Directors, succeeds Paul A. Friedman, M.D. Dr. Friedman is retiring and will continue to serve on the board. Friedman headed the company, which moved from California to Wilmington and now has a successful blood cancer drug in its portfolio.
“Hervé’s broad international oncology experience and proven track record in leading successful, high-performing R&D and commercial teams will be of great value as we continue to build upon Incyte’s remarkable success,” said Richard De Schutter, chairman of the Incyte Board of Directors. “At the time we welcome Hervé to the Incyte team, we especially want to thank and recognize Dr. Friedman for his extraordinary leadership of the company during his tenure as CEO. It is his leadership, together with the quality of the team he assembled, that has enabled Incyte to become the successful biopharmaceutical company it is today.”
As president of Novartis Oncology, Hoppenot, 53, was responsible for translational medicine, development, approval and commercialization, which included $11 billion in global sales, the largest oncology pipeline in the industry, as well as 8,000 employees in 50 countries.
Prior serving president, .Hoppenot served as Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Global Product Strategy & Scientific Development, overseeing medical affairs, global brand leadership, business development and licensing, health economics & pricing, early phase commercial development, strategic capabilities and global sales excellence for Oncology. He joined Novartis in 2003 as Senior Vice President, Head of Global Marketing and has more than twenty-five years of international experience.
Hoppenot started his career in France with Rhone Poulenc, later known as Aventis, where he served in several senior roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of Oncology and Head of the U.S. Oncology business unit. He holds a Diploma from ESSEC International Business School.
“I have worked in close collaboration with Incyte for many years on ruxolitinib and have been very impressed with the entire team that drove the discovery, development and commercialization of this first and only FDA-approved JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor,” said Hoppenot. “The strong science behind Incyte’s R&D programs and the strength and diversity of the pipeline are compelling and hold much promise for making a difference in the lives of patients. I am honored to join Incyte.”
