Singapore: The shareholders of Boehringer Ingelheim have appointed Dr Joachim Hasenmaier to Boehringer Ingelheim's board of managing directors. The 52-year-old will take over the responsibility for the new Consumer Healthcare and Animal Health Board Division from October 1, 2012. Prior to his appointment, Dr Hasenmaier was regional business manager for Northern Europe and Canada. From 2001 to 2011, Hasenmaier was divisional head, Animal Health, at Boehringer Ingelheim. Before joining Boehringer Ingelheim, he held both management responsibilities in the field of animal health and worked as a consultant in Germany and internationally.

"Joachim Hasenmaier's appointment is the outcome of a long-term human resource strategy. He has contributed to shaping the strategic and operational direction of our dynamically growing Animal Health business. Recognising the special focus of Animal Health and the Consumer Health Care business on the end-customer, it is meaningful to combine responsibilities in one Board Division," said Mr Christian Boehringer, chairman of the shareholders' committee of Boehringer Ingelheim.

The decision to enter the biosimilars business increases the strategic importance of Boehringer Ingelheim's biopharmaceuticals business. There will be a new board division, Biopharmaceuticals and Operations, on the board of managing directors from October 1, 2012. It will be led by Professor Wolfram Carius, who was previously responsible for the board division Human Resources and Operations.

Now, Professor Andreas Barner will take over responsibilities for Human Resources simultaneously with his newly established function as chairman (Vorsitzender) of the board of managing directors. He also remains board member for Research & Development and Medicine.

The Finance board division is of particular significance in the current situation. For this reason, it has now been distinctly separated from the operational business divisions. Responsibility for the Finance board division will remain with Hubertus von Baumbach. In addition he heads the Family Administration of the Shareholder Family as Chairman of the Family Council.

In view of the rapidly changing pharmaceuticals environment and the preparation of the expected launches for Boehringer Ingelheim's new therapeutic areas, the prescription medicines business is an important growth driver for the future. This board division will remain the responsibility of Engelbert Tjeenk-Willink.