Arun Kumar

Founder and Non-Executive Director

Arun Kumar is a first-generation entrepreneur and known for his ability to identify great opportunities in “difficult to operate” business domains. He founded Strides Pharma Science Limited (Strides) in 1990 and has since then led the company in building a global reputation with a differentiated business model and delivering value for its stakeholders (over $5B value creation for shareholders, including distribution of the most extensive dividend by a pharmaceutical company in India).

Besides founding Strides, Arun’s family office (setup in the early 2000s) ran a differentiated set of investments spread across several companies with a combined revenue base of over a billion dollars and an invested capital of over half a billion dollars. Arun is credited to have co-founded and built India’s largest fully integrated Animal Health Company, SeQuent Scientific Limited, in less than five years. Arun’s stake in SeQuent was divested to the Carlyle Group in May 2020.

Arun is the promoter of Solara Active Pharma Sciences, a pure-play API company, targeted to become India’s second-largest API business in less than four years. Recently, Arun’s family office has entered a strategic partnership with marquee investors to build a global biologics CDMO, specialty injectable and vaccine business with capabilities across several technology platforms. The businesses run under Arun’s leadership and ownership have presence in 100+ countries with 7000+ employees and over 25 global manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Arun is a recipient of “EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award” in the healthcare sector in 2000, Business Today “India Best CEO Award” (in mid-sized companies category), and “The Best CEO in the Pharma & Healthcare Industry” in 2014.

Neeraj Sharma

CEO and Managing Director

With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, Neeraj has lived and worked in key pharmaceutical markets in India, South-East Asia, Latin America, and Europe. A seasoned industry leader, he brings deep expertise in General Management and P&L leadership, having successfully guided businesses through critical phases such as market entry, rapid growth, turnarounds, and M&A integrations. His diverse experience across both highly regulated and emerging markets gives him a well-rounded and strategic perspective on the global pharmaceutical landscape.

Neeraj has been part of the Strides Group since 2021. In his most recent role, he served as CEO of Steriscience, the group’s sterile injectables business promoted in partnership with TPG, a leading private equity firm.

Previously, Neeraj spent 25 years with Ranbaxy and Sunpharma, leading businesses across the globe. In his last role he was Head of the Generics Business for Western Europe, successfully building a robust sterile injectables franchise, launching several pioneering ready-to-use products across Europe.

Outside of his professional commitments, Neeraj is an avid reader and fitness enthusiast, with a deep appreciation for the nuances of Urdu poetry.

Claudio Albrecht

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Dr. Albrecht is a pharmaceutical industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. He co-founded Albrecht, Prock & Partners and previously served as CEO of STADAAG, Actavis Group, and Ratiopharm Group. He serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. He has led significant internationalization and turnaround strategies, including driving Ratiopharm’s biosimilars program and orchestrating Actavis’s $6 billion sale to Watson. Dr. Albrecht holds a PhD in law and has a deep understanding of pharmaceutical strategy and global market dynamics.

Debarati Sen

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Ms. Sen is a seasoned global business leader with a track record of driving transformative business performance. She is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Kingfisher plc, Europe’s leading home improvement retailer. Previously, she held leadership roles at HMTX Industries, most recently serving as CEO, after having served as the Group President. She has led growth and strategic initiatives across industrial and consumer businesses, including heading the largest division in 3M’s Consumer Business Group with brands like Filtrete™, Command™, and ScotchBlue™. She previously served as CEO and Managing Director of 3M India Ltd. and is an active leader in nonprofit and academic boards, including the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), an international humanitarian organisation and the Carlson School of Management.

Vijay Karwal

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Mr. Karwal is a Managing Director at CBC Group, Asia’s largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm, where he is focused on capital deployment and portfolio management for the firm’s private equity and royalty & private credit investment funds. With over 25 years of global experience, he has held industry leadership roles at AffaMed Therapeutics and DaVita Inc., and senior investment banking roles with Nomura, CIMB, RBS, and ABN AMRO. He also serves as an Independent Director of Mega Lifesciences PCL and brings a wealth of expertise in healthcare investments and strategic growth initiatives.

Rashmi H. Barbhaiya

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Dr. Rashmi H. Barbhaiya is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with a global track record of driving innovation, drug development, and building successful pharma and CRO companies. He began his career with Bristol-Myers, where he spent 21 years contributing to the discovery and development of drugs for various diseases, including AIDS, cancer, and hypertension. His background combines management and entrepreneurial acumen, honed through decades of leading high-stakes pharma initiatives.

In 2002, Dr. Barbhaiya joined Ranbaxy in India as President of R&D, where he led a 900-person team and built an R&D alliance with GSK—the first of its kind for an Indian company. He was instrumental in Ranbaxy’s collaboration with the Medicines for Malaria Venture, which resulted in a cost-effective malaria treatment. Dr. Barbhaiya later co-founded Advinus Therapeutics, an innovative venture blending drug discovery with early-stage clinical services, and established partnerships with global pharma giants such as Merck and Novartis.

Dr. Barbhaiya’s recent roles include serving on advisory boards and scientific committees for various organizations focused on neglected diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and biotech innovation. He co-founded Apinovo Pharma Innovations, a company dedicated to revitalizing U.S.-based API manufacturing. A highly regarded scientist, he holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of London and has over 150 scientific publications.

Bharat D Shah

Non-Executive, Non Independent Director

Bharat Shah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from University of Mumbai and a Diploma in Applied Chemistry from Borough Polytechnic, London.

Bharat has a rich experience in the financial services sector and has expertise in the fields of banking, finance, real estate and securities market.

Bharat has been with HDFC Bank since its inception and has played a key role in the formation of the bank. He joined HDFC Bank as an Executive Director in December 1994.

Presently, he is the Chairman of 3M India Limited and Exide Industries Limited. He is also an independent director with HDFC Credila.

Colin Michael Bond

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Mr. Colin is an accomplished global finance executive with 15 years of experience as the Chief Financial Officer of three publicly listed companies in Switzerland and Germany. In addition to his CFO roles, he has served full terms as a Board Member and Audit Committee Chairman for listed companies in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

His career is marked by a strong track record of complex and high-impact transactions, including two IPOs, a corporate spin-off, a sale to private equity, acquisitions followed by delisting, and multiple public bond issuances. Mr. Colin also has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and strategy development and execution, coupled with operational expertise in leading Audit and Risk Committees, business transformation, digitalization, IT integration, and ESG initiatives.

Mr. Colin earned his MBA from London Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA). He began his professional journey with a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Aston in Birmingham, graduating with Upper Second Class Honours in 1984, and became a Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1985.