OREANDA-NEWS. Lonza’s Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Sven Abend as Chief Operating Officer for Specialty Ingredients following the decision by Beat In-Albon (63) to step down from that role and the Executive Committee at the end of this year.

Sven Abend, currently Chief Strategy Officer and member of the Executive Committee, will take over as head of Specialty Ingredients on 1 January 2016. With this move Lonza's Executive Committee will be reduced from five members to four. Beat In-Albon will continue to be involved in special projects and report directly to Lonza’s CEO.

“During his long and successful career, Beat has played a significant role in the stabilization of Lonza as a whole; and we’re pleased he will continue to help us in a coordinating role,” said Richard Ridinger, CEO of Lonza.

“Sven’s experience as Chief Strategy Officer in the Executive Committee with additional responsibility for Consumer Care and Industrial Solutions has prepared him well for leading our Specialty Ingredients segment,” he added.

About Lonza

Lonza is one of the world’s leading and most-trusted suppliers to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets. We harness science and technology to create products that support safer and healthier living and that enhance the overall quality of life.

Not only are we a custom manufacturer and developer, Lonza also offers services and products ranging from active pharmaceutical ingredients and stem-cell therapies to drinking water sanitizers, from the vitamin B compounds and organic personal care ingredients to agricultural products, and from industrial preservatives to microbial control solutions that combat dangerous viruses, bacteria and other pathogens.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today is a well-respected global company with more than 40 major manufacturing and R&D facilities and approximately 9,800 employees worldwide. The company generated sales of about CHF 3.64 billion in 2014 and is organized into two market-focused segments: Pharma&Biotech and Specialty Ingredients. Lonza’s stock is publicly traded on the Swiss and the Singapore stock exchanges.