People: Jean-Luc Lowinski joins Sanofi as senior VP Asia

Based in Shanghai as the French pharmaceutical company’s senior vice president, Asia region, Lowinski previously held senior roles in a number of Asian countries, serving as head of operations in Singapore, India, Thailand, China and Japan during his time at Bayer.

Following this he was appointed head of Bayer Healthcare, China in 2003 and subsequently became head of Bayer Healthcare, Asia Pacific, and president, Bayer Yakuhin, Japan in 2007.

“I’m confident that his deep knowledge of different Asian cultures makes him ideally suited to lead our operations to continued growth and success in the region,” said Hanspeter Spek, president, global operations at Sanofi.

The pharma company recorded revenues of €2.42bn in Asia last year, up 16.6 per cent on the previous 12 months. In comparison its fortunes in the West dipped, as European sales fell 4 per cent, and its US operations recorded just single digit growth.

This year the company faces an anticipated loss in net income of €1.4bn due to increased generic competition for key products, so building on its Asian performance will be an important part of compensating for lost sales.