Dan Staner

Executive Leader in Biopharma | Board Member | Adjunct Professor of Therapeutic Innovation, HEC Executive MBA

Lausanne Metropolitan Area

About

As the VP Head of EMEA region at Moderna, I built and lead the company's operations and strategy across a broad geography during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on contracting and delivering the Moderna vaccines to patients and EMEA healthcare systems. With 30 years of international BioPharma experience, I have a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams, driving sustainable growth, and launching new products across diverse markets and numerous therapeutic areas. My core competencies include area/regional general management, profit and loss management, cross-cultural and cross-functional leadership, organisational and go to market build-up in biotechs, exponential growth management, broad business acumen, product development, and life cycle management. I am passionate about innovation, driving results, and I strive to create a culture of performance, collaboration, and empowerment within my organisation and with my external stakeholders and partners where applicable.

Experience

  • President, Region Europe at Merz Therapeutics
    Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

  • Chief Business & Commercial Officer at ALCEDIAG
    Jul 2024 - Jan 2026 · 1 yr 7 mos

    Lead the global commercialization strategy & execution for Edit-B, the first RNA-based blood test differentiating bipolar disorder from major depressive disorder. Drive worldwide market shaping, launch, and adoption across the U.S., Europe, Japan, LATAM, and the Middle East. Forge & anchor strategic partnerships across all geographies to expand global reach and accelerate access to this breakthrough diagnostic. Oversee capital-raising initiatives to fund the next generation of RNA-based mental health diagnostics and scale commercialisation of Edit-B.

  • Moderna (Full-time · 3 yrs 11 mos)
    • Vice President, General Manager Germany & Switzerland & Head of Middle East Region
      Jan 2023 - Jun 2024 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Anchored Moderna presence in Switzerland & Germany while building a new go to market model as the market was transitioning from pandemic to endemic; strengthen Moderna market penetration and prepared the 2nd Moderna product launch (RSV vaccine). Developed & executed Moderna secondary distribution strategy and pre-ordering digital integrated system, allowing full transition from the pandemic to an endemic market model. Boosted market access, tenders shaping & channel management, multi-channel capabilities to compete & win. Built Moderna presence across the Middle East region with several long-term strategic projects. Robust commercial partnership agreements with strong local players in KSA, UAE, KUW, QAT and TUR, supporting the future Moderna expansion in the region. Established strong connections with the Healthcare Authorities and key governmental stakeholders (major sovereign funds, industry & finance authorities).

    • Vice President, Head of Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)
      Aug 2020 - Jan 2023 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      First Moderna employee outside of the North American continent and most Senior Commercial Leader outside of the USA; reporting directly to Moderna CEO & the Chief Commercial Officer. Established the International Moderna HQ in Switzerland and lead the Moderna cross-functional response across EMEA Region during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, while building the highest quality relationships with the EU Commission, HERA, the EU27 governments, UK, Swiss & key Middle East Health Authorities. In parallel, successfully led the expansion and the creation of the Moderna pan-EU organization, through the creation of our first 12 legal entities, the opening & staffing of the first 8 EU affiliates, the phased execution of our primary distribution models across the EU 27. Lead negotiations and closed all Covid-19 vaccine government purchase agreements across EMEA region for >580 Mio doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine between 2021-2023.

  • Executive Healthcare Consultant with Cordée Consulting at Cordée Consulting
    Jan 2020 - Jul 2020 · 7 mos

    Strategy consulting with US/EU MedTech & Biotech small size firms. Audience: Board of Directors & investors. Deliverables: global business plan, clinical development plan, pricing & reimbursement mapping, regulatory & manufacturing strategy, global forecasting, organizational design & staffing

  • Eli Lilly and Company (18 yrs 11 mos)
    • Area General Manager, Middle East & Pakistan Region
      Jan 2016 - Nov 2019 · 3 yrs 11 mos

      Led with high integrity a fast-growing organization across the Middle East & Pakistan Region with +350 employees deployed across 14 countries, covering +400 Mio people. Successfully led the organization with full P&L responsibility through several geo-political storms, frequent uncertainty where numerous transformation initiatives were required to adapt & anticipate the fast changing environment and prepare the organisation for a bright future. Successfully launched +30 highly innovative NEW brands, implemented 3 distributor changes and headed the digital transformation agenda across the region.

    • Area Marketing & Strategy Head - South Asia, India, Middle East, Turkey and Africa
      Feb 2015 - Dec 2015 · 11 mos

      Led the commercial execution & strategy for all therapeutic areas across the SAMETA region (South Asia, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, India; covering +1'500 employees & +USD 700 Mio). Headed all Marketing activities, Strategy, Sales Force Capabilities & Excellence, Sales Force Operations; took on 6 months interim leadership of Market Access, Pricing, Reimbursement & Corporate Affairs for all Lilly in-market & pipeline brands. Member of the Regional Leadership team, the International Marketing & International Corporate Affairs Leadership teams.

    • Area Marketing & Strategy Head - Turkey, Middle East, Africa, Russia/CIS
      Aug 2013 - Feb 2015 · 1 yr 7 mos

      Responsible across all therapeutic areas in the TMEA-CIS region (Turkey, Middle East, Africa, Russia & CIS, covering 1'700 employees, +700USD Mio) for: Marketing, Strategy, Sales Force Capabilities & Excellence, Sales Force Operations. Member of the Regional Leadership team & the International Marketing Leadership Team.