Somerset-based Catalent said it appointed Ricardo Zayas as senior vice president, operations, Biologics North America. Zayas will be responsible for all of the company’s North American biologics operations, including its centers of excellence for drug product fill/finish in Bloomington, Indiana, and gene therapy manufacturing in Harmans, Maryland.
Zayas will serve on the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to Catalent CEO and President Alessandro Maselli.
“Ricardo brings vast senior management experience to Catalent’s leadership team, which he will draw upon as we execute the next stage of our strategic growth plans in biologics that we have been implementing over the past few years. We have made significant investment in facilities, assets and new technologies across North America, and Ricardo will be working closely with the team we have in place to meet the demands of our customers’ therapies and medicines, enhancing operational excellence and bringing a growing pipeline of innovative treatments to patients,” Maselli commented.
Zayas’ experience includes more than 30 years working in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operations leadership. He joins Catalent from Ocyonbio, a biosimilars, cell and gene and viral vector development and manufacturing company, where he was chief operating officer.
Prior to that, as executive vice president and head of operations for Romark Pharmaceuticals, he led the development and buildout of Romark’s new manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico. His career also includes seven years at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he held the position of senior vice president, global pharmaceutical manufacturing, supply chain and product strategy, and led global pharmaceutical and active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, overseeing more than 8,000 employees worldwide. He has also held pharmaceutical manufacturing leadership roles at Sterling Drug, Warner-Lambert, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, AMAG Pharmaceuticals and Avon Products.
