The ABPI has completed its senior team of directors after appointing Dr Bina Rawal as its new Medical, Innovation and Research Director.

Dr Rawal will be responsible for advancing the productivity of the innovation process in the UK and will be the senior medical spokesperson for the ABPI to the Government, the media and other professional bodies.

Stephen Whitehead, ABPI Chief Executive, said the new recruit joins at a “critical time for industry” and said Bina’s experience will “complement that of our members to champion science, discovery, research and development”.

The new innovation lead joins the ABPI from the Wellcome Trust, where she served as Head of Clinical Development within the Technology Transfer Division. Prior to that, Dr Rawal held senior roles at Roche and GlaxoWellcome.

“I am very pleased to be joining the ABPI team and members to lead the campaigns on innovation,” she said. “The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role as a health care provider in the UK and research and development are an integral part of the patient journey through the NHS.”

Medivir AB has appointed the experienced Henric Juserius as its new head of commercial activities.

Mr Henric will have full responsibility over the pharmaceutical marketing and sales of the research-based speciality company when he joins in August 2012.

Maris Hartmanis, President and CEO of Medivir, said Mr Henric’s “extensive experience and broad expertise” will be “invaluable”.

The new commercial leader has more than 20 years’ experience working within the pharmaceutical industry at companies including Astra, GlaxoWellcome, Pfizer and Serono.

He joins from Actelion Pharmaceuticals where he held the position of Commercial Director for the Nordic region.

The company’s first product, Xerese for the treatment of cold sores, was launched in the US last year. It is also approved for use in England.

Vectura Group has appointed its Chief Operations Officer, Dr Trevor Phillips, onto the Board of Directors.

Trevor Phillips joined Vectura as President of US Operations in 2010, becoming COO in July 2011.

Before joining Vectura, he gained extensive international experience in pharmaceutical company leadership and drug development, including the roles of COO and CEO at US company Critical Therapeutics as well as senior positions at Sepracor, Accenture and GlaxoWellcome.

Jack Cashman, Chairman of Vectura, commented: “We welcome Trevor’s addition to the Board, where his extensive industry experience in both European and US public listed pharmaceutical companies will be an asset to us as we evolve on the next stage of growth, positioning ourselves as a key player in the respiratory market.”

Based in Chippenham, Vectura specialises in developing drugs to treat respiratory diseases.