Russell Abberley, Amgen UK & Ireland, steps up as Acting ABPI President

Former ABPI Vice-President takes up role on an interim basis

Russell Abberley, General Manager of Amgen UK and Ireland, has been named Acting ABPI President following former President Susan Rienow’s move to become Chief Marketing Officer at Pfizer, a global role.

Russell will lead the ABPI in its mission to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use the medicines and vaccines of the future. The ABPI Board will elect a new President in early 2025.

Russell has more than 25 years of life science industry experience across a range of geographies. He has also served on the ABPI Board [1] since July 2020, and was part of the industy Negotiating Team for the recently signed 2024 Voluntary Agreement for Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) scheme.

Russell Abberley, ABPI Acting President and VP and General Manager, Amgen UK & Ireland said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Acting President. Our industry represents a real force for good in the UK - developing, manufacturing and driving access to innovative medicines for patients and working with the NHS to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

“I look forward to working with the new government to help realise the full potential of the UK life sciences sector whilst restoring the UK’s reputation as a global leader. Key for me will be ensuring the UK maintains and improves its international competitiveness as a place to research, develop and launch innovative medicines."

Outgoing President Susan Rienow said: “Russell and I made a great team on the ABPI Board. He has a fantastic breadth of experience in our sector and I know he’ll be a great person to advance industry’s agenda in the UK over the next few months.”

Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive said: “Russell is a prominent and hugely respected industry leader who has already contributed a great deal to the wider success of the UK’s health and life sciences community. He was the natural choice to step in as Acting ABPI President, and I look foward to working with him even more closely.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the work that Susan Rienow did as ABPI President, at a very crucial time for the industry. While she will be greatly missed, it was no surprise to hear of her move to a new senior global role at her company. We all wish her all the best.”

Russell’s expertise spans all stages of the product life cycle and he has worked across multiple therapy areas on originator medicines and biosimilars in commercial and operational roles at companies including Astra Zeneca, MSD and Schering Plough.

In addition to serving as President on the ABPI Board, he co-chairs the ABPI’s commercial and VPAG board sponsored groups and is a member of the governance committee. Russell is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Group and served as Chair from August 2021 to October 2023.

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