Mark Samuels replaced Warwick Smith, who retired from the role after 25 years at the top of the BGMA, at the end of December 2020. BGMA represents generics manufacturers.
Mr Samuels will also oversee the British Biosimilars Association.
Before co-founding Medicines Discovery Catapult Ltd, which promotes innovative medical research, Mr Samuels was the founding managing director of the Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Mr Samuels said he was “excited to represent the generics and biosimilars sectors”. He added: “Generics and biosimilars save the NHS £15 billion each year, and the NHS would not be sustainable without them.
“These medicines have proven crucial during the pandemic – people in our industry are working strenuously but successfully to provide the medicines for intensive care that let patients with COVID-19 to be treated on a ventilator, for example.”
Mr Samuels paid tribute to Mr Smith’s “immense contribution” to the industry, while Mr Smith said he was “delighted” with his successor’s appointment.
