Changes in UCB's Board of Directors

Brussels (Belgium), October 2, 2020 – 7:00 AM (CET) – UCB SA/NV announces the proposal of the following changes in the composition of its Board of Directors for approval at the UCB Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2021. 

At the UCB Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2021, Evelyn du Monceau will have reached the statutory age limit and will step down as Chair and Director of the Board of UCB SA/NV. She will retire from the Board after four years as UCB’s Chair and over 35 years as UCB Board member. Stefan Oschmann, who is completing his successful tenure as CEO of Merck by end of April 2021 will be proposed as the successor to Evelyn du Monceau in the role of Chair of UCB's Board of Directors. Stefan Oschmann will be an independent Board member. Fiona du Monceau will be proposed as Vice Chair replacing Pierre Gurdjian, independent Director, who will remain a member of the Board. The Board would like to thank Pierre Gurdjian for successfully working in tandem with the Chair for the past four years and is very appreciative for his continued engagement as Board member.

Jean-Christophe Tellier, UCB’s CEO said: “UCB’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee want to express their sincere thanks to Evelyn du Monceau for the key role she played as Board member and as UCB Chair over the years. Evelyn, one of the few women chairing the Board of a Belgian company listed on Euronext Brussels, has been a highly appreciated member of the Board for over 35 years bringing a unique contribution and perspective to the company’s strategic discussions and always keeping the patients well-being top of mind. We are very grateful for how she contributed to guide UCB on its transformation and growth journey. We also warmly welcome Stefan Oschmann as the new Chairman and Fiona du Monceau as Vice Chair.”

Evelyn du Monceau, Chair and Director of the Board of UCB said: “Since 2017 I have been chairing the UCB Board with great commitment and passion, and this in close collaboration with the Vice Chair Pierre Gurdjian. It was a privilege to chair UCB and work with our CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier during this period of major achievements of the company such as the progression of our pipeline, important acquisitions, and the launch of new solutions aimed at helping patients who suffer from severe diseases, so that they can live the life they would like to have. I am very pleased with the choice of the future Chair, Stefan Oschmann, and Vice Chair, Fiona du Monceau, and I am highly confident that together they will bring the experience, dedication and the human qualities needed to take UCB to the next level.”  

Stefan Oschmann became Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck in 2016. He joined Merck in 2011 as a member of the Executive Board and was responsible for the Healthcare business sector until the end of 2014. He then became Vice Chairman and CEO. Before joining Merck, Stefan Oschmann worked for the U.S. pharma company MSD, where he served in a range of senior executive positions. He started his career at an agency of the United Nations and worked for the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI). Stefan Oschmann is a German national, was born in Würzburg, Germany. He holds a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. 

Jean-Christophe Tellier, UCB’s CEO said: “Stefan Oschmann’s exceptional leadership skills and strategic business experience in life sciences, will bring a wealth of external expertise at a time when UCB is preparing to enter its Breakthrough and Lead strategic phase. We are very confident that Stefan Oschmann will guide us to continuously create more value for patients and built on our commitment to care for our people, our communities, and the planet.”

Fiona du Monceau brings nearly 20 years of experience in life sciences. She is COO of ExeVir Bio and a board member of Financière de Tubize SA since 2014. Previously, Fiona was Venture Partner at UCB Ventures and UCB Evenity Commercial Lead and Head of EU for the Bone business. Prior to UCB, she led various teams at Eli Lilly, managed business units and implemented new models. Fiona also worked for McKinsey & Company covering healthcare clients in the US and Europe and worked in business development at GSK Biologicals. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a MSc in Management from the Belgian Solvay Business School (ULB). She is a Fulbright and a Belgian American Education Foundation (BAEF) scholar. Fiona is a governor of the London Business School and a member of their audit and risk committee.

For further information, UCB:

Corporate Communications
Laurent Schots 
Media Relations, UCB  
T+32.2.559.92.64  Laurent.schots@ucb.com 

Investor Relations
Antje Witte          
Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.94.14 antje.witte@ucb.com

Isabelle Ghellynck,
 Investor Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.9588, isabelle.ghellynck@ucb.com 

About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With 7 500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 4.9 billion in 2019. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news