Cipla, one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies has appointed Frank Pieters as the Head of European Region and the Global Respiratory Business, with effect from July 3, 2012.

Before joining Cipla, Frank Pieters served as senior vice president Southern Europe Region in TEVA Pharmaceuticals. He comes on board with over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in different senior management positions, with the unique background in respiratory medicine.

Announcing the appointment of Frank Pieters, Dr Yusuf K Hamied, chairman and managing director, Cipla said, “Frank brings a wealth of expertise in the respiratory domain. With him at the helm, Cipla would like to capture the huge commercial upside of 30 years experience in Cipla’s respiratory medicine; both in emerging and regulated markets. This appointment signals Cipla’s strengthening of senior management positions and also illustrates Cipla’s desire for senior on-ground talent in overseas markets to build its product portfolio and brand. Apart from global respiratory business, Frank will also spearhead the generics and value-added product portfolio across the European region through strategic alliances.”

Frank Pieters said, “After spending very interesting years both at GSK and TEVA, I’m thrilled to join the Cipla Team, helping to expand both the Respiratory business worldwide and the European Business. Building further on the outstanding capabilities and business network will definitely bring exciting times for the company in these domains.”

Pieters played a significant role in accelerating the growth of TEVA’s Respiratory business globally. He has served as Senior VP Global Biogenerics and Global Respiratory Commercial business for TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries since 2009. He was also a member of the TEVA-Lonza Joint Steering Committee. From 1989 to 2004, Pieters spearheaded several senior positions at GlaxoSmithKline, last of which was VP and General Manager.