Hikma hires well-connected American

Hikma Pharmaceuticals has appointed US public affairs veteran John Castellani to its board.

The FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals company said the appointment, which is effective from March 1, will see him join the the audit, remuneration, and compliance, responsibility and ethics committees.

Castellani was previously president and chief executive officer of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) from 2010 to 2015.

Prior to that, he was the president and chief executive of Business Roundtable - an association of leading US company chief executives.

He has also held senior positions at a number of companies including Burson-Marsteller, Tenneco and General Electric.

“He brings a wealth of pharmaceutical regulatory and policy experience, particularly in the United States, as well as broad business experience,” said Hikma Pharmaceuticals chairman and chief executive Said Darwazah.