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Avanzanite Bioscience Appoints Sotiris Botozis as General Manager Southern Europe

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Avanzanite Bioscience Appoints Sotiris Botozis as General Manager Southern Europe
News

News

Avanzanite Bioscience Appoints Sotiris Botozis as General Manager Southern Europe

2025-04-10 14:00 Last Updated At:14:11

AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 10, 2025--

Avanzanite Bioscience B.V. proudly announces the appointment of Sotiris Botozis as General Manager Southern Europe. As the fourth executive leadership hire of 2025, this move further strengthens Avanzanite’s “Champions League”, highlighting the Company’s commitment to assembling a world-class team.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250409727258/en/

For the past three years, Sotiris has made Greece Avanzanite’s second-largest market. In his new full-time role as General Manager of Southern Europe, he will supervise operations in several markets, including Greece, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta. He will also lead the Company’s strategic entry into Spain.

“Sotiris has been a driving force behind our success in Greece, and this promotion reflects both his outstanding leadership and Avanzanite’s broader expansion across Europe,” said Adam Plich, Founder and CEO of Avanzanite. “His expertise and unwavering commitment to ensuring that no patient is left behind make him the ideal person to drive our continued growth in these important markets. We’re just getting started on this exciting journey.”

Before joining Avanzanite, Mr. Botozis built an impressive career in the bioscience industry, particularly at Astellas and Amgen, where he launched over 10 specialty and orphan medicines and led teams that generated more than €120 million in annual revenue. A pharmacist by training, he is also the founder of Anelixis Pharmaceuticals in Greece, further showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic vision.

“It is an honor to step into this expanded role at such a pivotal time in Avanzanite’s journey,” said Sotiris Botozis. “We’re at the forefront of a revolution in rare disease treatment. I’m excited to build on our success, delivering life-changing orphan medicines to patients across 11 countries in the region.”

Sotiris will operate from Avanzanite’s newly established corporate location in Zug, Switzerland. In addition to his new role, he will serve as Site Manager, further strengthening his leadership role as the Company expands its presence in key European markets.

This appointment is a crucial part of Avanzanite’s newly structured organization, specifically designed to scale operations and address the rapidly growing demand from emerging biotech companies for effective commercialization and distribution partnerships of orphan medicines across Europe’s diverse markets. Through this transformation, Avanzanite is set to unlock the full potential of these medicines, extending their reach to Europe.

Avanzanite is continuing its strong financial performance, with revenues more than tripling in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This surge in revenue marks an important milestone in the Company's rapid expansion, highlighting the successful execution of its innovative go-to-market strategy. As Avanzanite broadens its portfolio and hones its unique approach to market entry, it is already seeing success in 14 countries, generating revenue in eight. By the end of 2025, Avanzanite plans to scale up to all 32 European countries, further solidifying its position as a leader in the orphan medicines sector.

About Avanzanite Bioscience

Avanzanite Bioscience is redefining how orphan medicines are marketed across Europe. We are committed to ensuring that every patient battling a rare disease has access to the treatment they deserve in every corner of Europe, no matter the challenge, with the firm belief that no patient should ever be left behind. By partnering with emerging biotech companies, we enable and accelerate the commercialization and distribution of their orphan medicines across all European markets. With our deep expertise in market access, like masters of chess, we decode and navigate the complexities of European commercialization, making precise moves to unlock the potential of and drive the success of our partners’ medicines.

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we see limitless potential in the world. Imagine if that energy were unlocked – how lives could be transformed, challenges overcome, and the future reshaped for those who need it most. Our journey begins with unlocking that potential in the field of rare diseases in Europe.

For more information, visit www.avanzanite.com.

Sotiris Botozis, General Manager Southern Europe

Sotiris Botozis, General Manager Southern Europe

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2025--

Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII ), a premier provider of executive search, global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, has appointed Kati Najipoor-Smith as Regional Co-Managing Partner, CEO & Board Practice, for Europe and Africa. Based at the Firm’s office in Frankfurt, Germany, Kati brings decades of global executive search and consulting experience to the Heidrick & Struggles team to support boards and CEOs in navigating complex leadership challenges.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250501269229/en/

Kati began her executive search career at Egon Zehnder in 1999, where she led Global Automotive and later the Global CEO Practice over several years. She advises chairs and CEOs of publicly traded, family-owned, and private-equity-backed companies across sectors and regions, focusing on building effective and strong boards and senior leadership teams. With a global network and extensive experience in CEO transitions, including many visible placements, Kati collaborates closely with boards to ensure robust, objective, and confidential succession processes, including the development of future CEOs.

Speaking about her appointment with Heidrick & Struggles,Kati Najipoor-Smith said: “In this era of unprecedented uncertainty and complexity, business leaders are under immense pressure and the quality of leadership – at both board and C-Suite levels – is being tested like never before. With that in mind, I am excited to join Heidrick & Struggles and to work alongside a highly qualified and diverse consulting team, combining human-centric insight with fact-based, analytical rigour to support our clients’ most critical leadership decisions.”

Jenni Hibbert, Heidrick & Struggles’ Global Managing Partner Go-To-Market and Regional Leader, Europe & Africa, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Kati to Heidrick & Struggles, where I look forward to working with her as she brings her unique talent and experience to bear to make a meaningful impact on our clients across the region.”

Kati spent several years in management consultancies including Roland Berger and at FEV Group, a leading engineering services firm. She holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Aachen in Germany, an MSc in mechanical engineering from the University of California, and a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Portland.

Kati is a frequent speaker and panel guest on leadership topics and is often invited to provide global perspectives on leadership. She also co-founded a private network of senior female executives 10 years ago to support female leaders’ advancement.

About Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) is the world's foremost advisor on executive leadership, driving superior client performance through premier human capital leadership advisory services. For more than 70 years, we've delivered value for our clients by leveraging unrivaled expertise to help organizations discover and enable outstanding leaders and teams. Learn more at www.heidrick.com.

Kati Najipoor-Smith has been appointed Heidrick & Struggles' Regional Co-Managing Partner, CEO & Board Practice, for Europe and Africa

Kati Najipoor-Smith has been appointed Heidrick & Struggles' Regional Co-Managing Partner, CEO & Board Practice, for Europe and Africa

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