Doctor of Pharmacy and industrial process engineer. In 2016, he joined UCB Pharma as an R&D engineer for chemical process scale-up. In 2020, he developed GMP solutions to generate automated reports from laboratory to plant. He notably implemented Machine Learning models to increase the yields of certain industrial machines. In 2023, he took on positions directing pilot studies and process modelling at IPSOMEDIC and IPSOMEL.
Managing Director of Askleia. He has a long career in administrative and financial management across various sectors, with particular hands-on experience in high-growth companies (Mademoiselle Desserts, in the food industry, which shares similarities with pharmaceutical production), growing from an SME to a mid-cap in just a few years. He also has an extensive network with investors (BAs, VCs, Small-Mid Cap Investment Funds) and banks, and strong knowledge of various financing tools such as LBOs, having led 3 at Mademoiselle Desserts.
Doctor of Pharmacy and chemical process engineer. He held various positions in the pharmaceutical production sector. In 2006, he joined IBA Molecular as delegated pharmacist, responsible for the release of pharmaceutical batches. At UCB Biopharma, he initially served as project manager to introduce new production technologies. In 2010, he co-founded a group responsible for knowledge management for technical development and manufacturing. From 2013, he took over data management for all plants and technical development sites, supporting the digital transformation of UCB Biopharma. Since 2023, he has been directing the R&D site comprising IPSOMEDIC and IPSOMEL. His extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, its regulatory, quality and process requirements, enables him to organise the operations of our various departments..
Jean-François Hilaire holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy and also completed the General Management programme at CEDEP (INSEAD Campus). He began his career in the industry in the early 1990s in R&D at Rhône-Poulenc-Rorer. He then took on international commercial responsibilities as subsidiary director for pharmaceutical groups. In 2005, he assumed industrial responsibilities as plant director, then in charge of all Solvay Pharmaceuticals plants worldwide (18 sites), reorganising the network. Following the acquisition of Solvay’s pharmaceutical division by Abbott in 2010, he led the reorganisation of Abbott’s industrial network during the Abbott-Abbvie separation. In 2015, he joined the CDMO world, first taking responsibility at Recipharm AB, where he built the group’s value proposition and an external growth policy, including the acquisition of Consort, which led to the creation of the ADS (Advanced Delivery Systems) division, which he chaired. In 2022, he joined Unither as CEO, driving international development in the United States, Brazil and China. Since 2024, he advises international investment funds and holds board seats, including at Italian pharmaceutical chemistry group Ice Pharma. In April 2025, he took over the leadership of Askleia.
Joe MASSOUH, who holds a PhD in organic chemistry, is currently Head of Laboratories and Methods. He began his career in the innovation division of a global leader in dietary supplements production, where he spent three years leading research projects focused on sustainability and green chemistry. He then spent five years as Head of R&D in the pharmaceutical industry, developing innovative processes for the manufacture of APIs and contributing to the establishment of future production units. Today, he brings this expertise to ASKLEIA with an approach that combines scientific rigour and productivity optimisation. Committed and impact-driven, he is motivated by the development of sustainable and high-performance solutions in the service of innovation.