Changes in the management team
Pharmacist Soile Hakala has been appointed Quality Director (Qualified Person, QP) of BBS-Bioactive Bone Substitutes Ltd (BBS) as of 17th August 2020. Her specialities are pharmaceutical technology and biopharmacy. In addition, she has completed a wide range of international courses related to clean rooms and quality systems, as well as a specialist degree in management. For the past 18 years, Hakala has worked in the pharmaceutical industry in demanding and responsible positions at Santen Ltd and Nextpharma Ltd. The beginning of her career includes the duties as a pharmacist in a pharmacy and as a researcher at a university. The appointment strengthens the company’s ability to complete the CE marking approval process.
Hanna Tölli, PhD, has been appointed the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). Tölli has worked for the past 15 years as a researcher, product developer and production manager in the company. Her background is in health technology and biomaterials. Tölli’s dissertation in 2011 dealt with the ossification effects of a reindeer bone protein product developed by the company in various animal models. Based on the research in the dissertation, the company’s first product ARTEBONE®, has been developed for which the company is currently applying a CE marking. Tölli’s main office is in Reisjärvi, where BBS’s pharmaceutical factory is located.
Following the appointments, the company’s Management Team consists of Ilkka Kangasniemi CEO, Hannu Säynäjäkangas CFO, Soile Hakala QD and Hanna Tölli COO.
Changes in the Board of Directors
The composition of the Board of Directors of the BBS-Bioactive Bone Substitutes Oyj was changed in 17th August 2020 at the Annual General meeting so, that it better complies with the new corporate governance code 2020 for listed companies. The proposal has been made by the largest shareholders. Seppo Nevalainen, a marketing expert, started as a new member of the board. After the change, the Board of Directors has two members independent of the company and shareholders.
Seppo Nevalainen, a new member of the Board, has a diverse and long career in sales and marketing management positions and on boards of pharmaceutical companies such as Alnor Ltd, Datex-Ohmeda Div. of Instrumentarium Corp., GE Healthcare, Inion Ltd, Mediracer Ltd, Ozics AG, StickTech Ltd, Riverbank CS Ltd, Technical University of Tampere, Onbone Ltd and most recently HUR Ltd. Strengthening sales and marketing expertise on the Board of Directors will be beneficial as BBS plans to commercialize its products in the near future.