Hospira appoints new European president

Hospira has announced the appointment of Svend Andersen as its new corporate vice-president and president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Mr Andersen will take up his role on November 1st 2010 and will take charge of spearheading the company's growth and market leadership strategies.

The executive formerly served as the executive vice-president of Actavis, where he was credited with helping to drive the business' expansion in the UK among other territories, while he has also worked for Alpharma and Ferrosan in the past.

Hospira hopes that Mr Andersen will be able to expand the company's geographic reach, as well as reinforcing its standing in the EMEA injectables, generics and medical device markets.

Ron Squarer, senior vice-president and chief commercial officer of Hospira, said: "Svend is an accomplished, dynamic and ambitious business leader who brings global experience in driving profitable growth and creating value within the generics and branded pharmaceuticals spaces."

Earlier this year, the company announced that its founding chief executive officer Christopher Begley is to retire, although he is continuing in the role until his successor is chosen.