Nordic Life Science 1
- THE LATEST LIFE SCIENCE CAREER NEWS FROM THE NO
RDIC REGION IN A NEW JOB Johnny Mogensen Director of NordForsk Helen Tayton-Martin CEO of Evaxion Katarina Flodström CEO of Episurf Medical Mads Bjerregaard Chief Business Officer at SynAct Pharma JOHNNY MOGENSEN has held several positions in the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science since 2002 has also been posted to Brussels as an adviser to Denmark’s EU delegation and as a national expert to the European Commission. He has knowledge of the research and innovation ecosystem in Denmark, the Nordic region and Europe. He most recently held the position as Denmark’s research and innovation attaché in Boston, USA. “I am very much looking forward to taking up the post of director at NordForsk. Cooperation on research is a unique strength in the Nordics. I will do my best to ensure that NordForsk continues to contribute to research that is of the highest quality and is relevant to the whole of the Nordic region. It is also important that co-operation continues to evolve, that we make joint investments in research that make Nordic research environments stronger, and give the region a strong international voice,” says Mogensen. He is starting his new position on February 1, 2026. HELEN TAYTON-MARTIN will take up her new position on November 24, 2025, and simultaneously step down from the company’s Board of Directors. Tayton-Martin holds a PhD in Molecular Immunology and an MBA from London Business School, she was a co-founder of Adaptimmune, where she served as COO and later Chief Business and Strategy Officer during her 17 years with the company. Throughout this time, she oversaw transatlantic growth, multiple clinical, academic and commercial collaborations, and private and public financing through to its Nasdaq IPO. Prior to that she spent 15 years working within the pharma, biotech, and consulting environments for various companies. She also served as a non-executive director of Trillium Therapeutics from 2017 through to the sale of the company to Pfizer in November 2021. “During my time on the company’s board, I have seen firsthand the strength of its AI-Immunology platform for delivering real potential products,” says Tayton-Martin. KATARINA FLODSTRÖM, born in 1975, has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Lund University and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Flodström has been employed in different positions at Episurf Medical since 2014 and has been part of the management team since 2018. “Katarina has been with the company since its inception and possesses deep knowledge of both the company and its technology,” says Ulf Grunander, Chairman of the Board, Episurf Medical. “I am grateful for the opportunity to assume the role of CEO of Episurf Medical. We have important regulatory and commercial initiatives underway, and I look forward to driving these forward with full force,” says Katarina Flodström, incoming CEO of Episurf Medical. Pål Ryfors will remain as interim Chief Financial Officer and the Board wishes to continue to cooperate closely with him going forward, the company state. MADS BJERREGAARD has held leading positions in life science companies during his more than 20 years of professional experience including commercial and business development roles in Danish based biopharma and medtech companies, Lundbeck, Zealand Pharma, and UNEEG Medical. Throughout his career, Bjerregaard has lived and worked internationally and has driven innovation towards commercialization in neurology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. He holds a master’s degree from Copenhagen Business School. “SynAct is at a significant inflection point with the company’s Phase 2b ADVANCE study in rheumatoid arthritis progressing well, and multiple indications in the works to maximize the potential value of resomelagon,” says Jeppe Øvlesen, CEO, SynAct Pharma. “With Mads on board as part of our Copenhagen based team, we have strengthened our ability to develop and execute on our commercial and partnering opportunities,” adds Øvlesen. 20 | NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG PHOTO SOFIA BUSK