Astellas has announced changes to its leadership team in the US and Canada, including the role of general manager and senior positions in sales and marketing.

The company has appointed Steve Sabus as general manager of Astellas Pharma Canada (APCA), effective April 1, 2018. In his new role, he will lead business operations in the country.

Sabus will report to Percival Barretto-Ko, senior vice president, international operations at Astellas and will be based in Markham, Ontario. Michael Tremblay, who has served as president of APCA since June 2010, will be retiring from Astellas and his 42-year career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Sabus, who joined Astellas in 2007, has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He most recently served as vice president, primary care, specialty, hospital and transplant sales at Astellas US, where he led the successful launches of Myrbetriq (mirabegron), for treating overactive bladder, and Cresemba (isavuconazonium sulfate), an antifungal medication.

With Sabus’ departure from his former role at Astellas Pharma US, Astellas has announced two senior-level changes in the US sales and marketing organization within the company’s Urology and Hospital Business Unit.

Lynn Fenicchia Gerber has been promoted to US vice president, primary care, specialty, hospital and transplant sales where she will lead sales efforts for the overactive bladder, anti-fungal, cardiovascular and transplant franchises. Kevin O’Keefe has been promoted to US area vice president, sales, primary care and specialty – West, where he will be responsible for overseeing sales efforts and developing talent within the sales force.

In 2003, Gerber joined Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., which merged with Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. to create Astellas, and was previously at GlaxoSmithKline. She has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with roles of responsibility in the areas of sales leadership, marketing, and operations.

O’Keefe has 27 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with 20 years in sales leadership. Most recently, O’Keefe was the senior area sales director in the hospital division leading a team of regional sales managers responsible for the company’s anti-fungal, cardiovascular, and transplant franchises. O’Keefe joined Astellas in 2007 as a regional sales manager.

Prior to joining Astellas, O’Keefe worked with Bayer and Oscient, a Waltham, Massachusetts-headquartered pharmaceutical company, in roles of increasing responsibility, including sales leadership, development and training. He will be based in Houston working with a team of sales directors, reporting to Lynn Gerber, along with David Musselman, US area vice president, sales, primary care and specialty – East and Greg Radenbaugh, national vice president, hospital sales.

Source: Astellas