Paul Souren

Strategic operations leader with 15+ years of pharma corporate and affiliate experience leading strategic initiatives, transformation programs, portfolio and product strategies and in-house consulting functions. Proven track record of designing and operationalising strategic measures from concept to implementation while working closely with senior leadership. Expert in cross-functional team leadership, pharma portfolio management, and stakeholder management.

Recognised strategic change agent combining strategic project leadership with hands-on execution and experience in pharma portfolio strategy in its highly regulated, complex environments.

Global Business Transformation Director at Roche, Pharma International – Commercial Division (2019-01 – Present)

Lead strategic initiatives and transformation initiatives to get innovative treatments to patients faster across 100+ international affiliates. Streamlining ways of working, harmonising resource allocation internationally and facilitating organisational transformation while working directly with executive leadership to reach more patients faster.

• Designed and implemented a unified international operating model and strategic framework, scaling from 12 to 12,500 people across all affiliate countries in 4 years. Business impact: double-digit YoY sales growth (more patients reached, faster)
• Transformed the affiliates operating models to a flatter, more agile organisation with less hierarchy and managers (staff reduced from 17K to 12.5K in 4 years) and facilitated a significant portfolio shift where in 2019, 80% of sales came from 4 products, whereas in 2023, 80% of sales were delivered by 9 products
• Led corporate transformation initiatives integrating strategic planning, execution, and impact measurement, resulting in increased empowerment and accountability of colleagues closest to customers
• Operationalised strategic measures through standardised cycles connecting strategy to execution across international affiliates and head-office teams
• Established a global Community of Practice serving as an internal consulting function to harmonise ways of working, eliminate duplication, and scale best practices across the organisation, focusing on creating a greater impact for customers faster. Result a global CoP of ~140 colleagues worldwide, meeting virtually monthly to align, share and harmonise
• Developed a comprehensive resource allocation and impact measurement framework enabling data-driven portfolio management and strategic prioritisation decisions focusing on the top-25 affiliates globally, while making sure that insights reached all other countries as well
• Integrated Customer Experience: led the pilot in the UK, Germany and Australia to harmonise, improve and increase the impact of customer engagements across staff and channels
• Coached affiliate and international leadership teams, fostering empowerment and accountability while maintaining delivery excellence
• Managed complex stakeholder relationships across 100+ affiliates, aligning diverse senior international stakeholders on strategic priorities

Portfolio Strategy Director | Board Member at Roche Netherlands (2015-01 – 2018-12)

Led strategic initiatives, portfolio management, and corporate transformation for the 180-person Roche affiliate in the Netherlands. Board member (7-person Board) responsibility for strategic priorities, resource allocation, and organisational performance.

• Led the organisation through a significant shift in portfolio due to patent expiry (sales decline of Eur 160 mio in appr 18 months) and simultaneously launching into 3 new disease areas
• Led end-to-end affiliate transformation toward agile ways of working and new organisational structure, enabling strategic expansion into new disease areas and market segments while continuing to deliver business
• Directed strategic project portfolio, making critical prioritisation and trade-off decisions impacting organisational direction and resource deployment
• Led and developed Marketing and Digital Marketing team (35 FTE), aligning skills, capacity, and structure aligned with the strategic portfolio shift as indicated
• Drove change management initiatives across all organisational functions, establishing accountability frameworks and performance metrics
• Collaborated with the Executive Board on strategic decision-making, translating corporate strategy into actionable initiatives

International Product Manager / Global Launch Leader at F. Hoffmann-La Roche (2013-08 – 2014-12)

Global launch leader for a new treatment option for stage III-IV cervical cancer. Led strategic projects and coordinated strategic alignment in cross-functional international teams across multiple markets, ensuring aligned objectives and on-time delivery of strategic initiatives. This landed in the top-5 launches at Roche, serving difficult-to-treat patients in many low- and middle-income countries.

• Led strategic projects and coordinated strategic alignment in cross-functional international teams across multiple markets
• Ensured aligned objectives and on-time delivery of strategic initiatives
• Achieved top-5 launch ranking at Roche

Launch Readiness Manager at Roche Netherlands (2009-01 – 2013-12)

Led strategic projects supporting portfolio growth and strategic market entry.

• Led strategic projects supporting portfolio growth
• Supported strategic market entry initiatives

Commercial & Operations Roles at Janssen-Cilag and Wyeth Netherlands (2000-01 – 2009-12)

Progressive roles in commercial operations, project management, and strategic planning supporting portfolio growth in pharmaceutical organisations.

• Progressive roles in commercial operations, project management, and strategic planning
• Supported portfolio growth in pharmaceutical organisations

Master of Science in Animal Science – Wageningen University and Research Centre