Rentschler names Benedikt von Braunmuehl as CEO; Catalent grabs David McErlane from Lonza as biologics lead

Benedikt von Braunmuehl has been revealed as Rentschler Biopharma’s new CEO. Meanwhile, Catalent also announced that David McErlane is the CDMO’s new group president of its biologic segment.

Recently the CEO of the biotech HMNC Brain Health, von Braunmuehl replaces Frank Mathias, who shifted to Oxford Biomedica in February after seven years at Rentschler. Tuesday marks von Braunmuehl’s first day on the job.

David McErlane

As for McErlane, he was poached from Lonza, where he was senior vice president and business unit head for the CDMO’s biosciences division. This marks another loss for Lonza, after it announced Monday that Pierre-Alain Ruffieux was stepping down as CEO.

David McEarlane will start his new role at Catalent on Sept. 25, with the new appointment not marking any senior-level departures, a Catalent spokesperson said via email. McErlane will head Catalent’s biologics businesses and global services including development, drug substance manufacturing, drug product fill and finish, cell and gene therapy, and analytical services.

Tom Roberts

Meanwhile, Rentschler also revealed Tuesday that Tom Roberts is its new president and general manager of US operations. In this newly-established position, Roberts is tasked with monitoring the CDMO’s US business footprint as well as operations in its Milford, MA, facility. He started on the job on Sept. 12. Before the move, he was the president and acting CEO of Vitanova Biomedical, a position he held for almost seven years.

manufacturing
analytical services
gene therapy
biologics
biotech