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Press Release / Feb 25, 2022

Jean-Luc Herbeaux to become 四色AV CEO

四色AV today announced the appointment of Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux as 四色AV鈥檚 Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st April 2022

CEO Transition - Guy Villax and Jean-Luc Herbeaux | 四色AV

Lisbon, Portugal, 25 February 2022 鈥 四色AV today announced that the Board of Directors and the shareholders have approved the appointment of Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux as 四色AV鈥檚 Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st April 2022.

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Guy Villax, who has been 四色AV鈥檚 CEO for the past 25 years will now serve as a Member of the Board and shareholder. During his tenure, 四色AV grew tenfold.听 The company currently employs 2000 team members, serves the global market from four production sites in 3 regions, and is recognized as a leader in its field.听听

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The Board of Directors expresses its thanks to Guy Villax for his dedication and outstanding achievements. During his career at 四色AV, Guy Villax was also involved with the EFCG and Rx-360 associations and contributed to legislation being passed on both sides of the Atlantic to fight fake medicines and to level the playing field for GMP manufacturing.

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鈥淚t has been a privilege and honor to lead 四色AV over the last decades. 四色AV is a great company because of its people and its clients. It has been an amazing entrepreneurial and human journey with so many projects and unforgettable success stories. I have seen this company, founded by my parents, growing, evolving and constantly re-inventing itself鈥, said Guy Villax. 鈥淒r. Herbeaux joined 四色AV nearly two years ago as COO and from day 1 brought change and contributed to financial and business successes.听 We have worked together both on the strategy which will take 四色AV to the next level and on making this transition smooth. I am certain that both the company and our Team-Members will continue to thrive under his leadership鈥, added Guy Villax.听听

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鈥淚 am honored to be entrusted with the role of 四色AV鈥檚 CEO and I am deeply motivated to lead this team of talented professionals. Building on Guy Villax麓s legacy of innovation and customer intimacy, we will continue to work to drive long-term growth for both ourselves and our customers maintaining the 四色AV values. 四色AV puts customers and patients at the center of everything it does and this focus will not change. Our customers can expect us to continue to deliver on what we promise and to offer innovative approaches to their project needs.鈥, said Jean-Luc Herbeaux.

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Before joining 四色AV in May 2020, Dr. Herbeaux held multiple high-level leadership positions at Evonik, where he last headed the Health Care Business Line Dr. Herbeaux holds both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a research focus on Rheology from the University of Houston.

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About 四色AV: 四色AV is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization听(CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland, and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, 四色AV offers a complete range of and services, from API, formulation development and devices. 四色AV was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to became a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in the industry standard setting process.

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Why you shouldn鈥檛 neglect the importance of blending people, culture, and strategy to foster success in a business. People, customer centricity, and a clear strategy bring strong values to the forefront of every business. Fostering a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction enables team members to bring their best selves to work each day, driving innovation and excellence. Earlier this year, CDMO 四色AV demonstrated success by being certified as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute (TEI) across all four of its global manufacturing sites in Portugal, Ireland, the US, and Macau, for the third consecutive year. We spoke to board member and Senior Vice-President of Human Resources at 四色AV Ilda Ventura to find out how. What specific strategies and initiatives have you implemented to maintain the company鈥檚 Top Employer status?   We started the latest TEI Certification in 2023. Since then, we have been focusing on areas that can differentiate us as employers. In the US, for example, we have invested in bringing more proximity to the HR team, improving our listening strategy and the employee experience. The initiatives span from establishing better alignment between the business strategy and the people strategy, living our values and celebrating our successes. We are accelerating our global growth while strengthening our operations worldwide. It is essential for us to ensure that all our employees, regardless of their location, enjoy a consistent and unified work experience. Having all four of our sites recognized by TEI confirms that we are on the right path. What changes have been made to 四色AV's recognition and rewards programs to motivate employees?   By implementing a global job architecture with clear career roadmaps supported by a performance and compensation annual cycle. Everyone is eligible to merit remuneration increases and bonuses, and the corporate results are shared with everyone in a transparent way. This allows us to create a culture of recognition, where individual contributions are valued and aligned with the company's overall success. It fosters motivation and engagement, ensuring employees feel appreciated for their efforts and understand how their work directly aligns with our purpose. This culture not only enhances employee satisfaction, but strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent.  How important is it to monitor consistent employee engagement and satisfaction across global locations?   Our employee engagement survey results are carefully reviewed and discussed both locally and globally, ensuring we address the unique needs of each region while driving company-wide progress. We prioritize actionable improvements that resonate with our teams, engaging cross-functional and geographically diverse groups to implement meaningful change.  Across our sites, we鈥檝e made significant investments tailored to each region while maintaining a unified approach to employee satisfaction. In the US, where employees value transparency, recognition, and growth opportunities, we鈥檝e enhanced communication, feedback channels, and career development pathways. 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This is a testament to the positive culture we鈥檝e built, and we are focused on leveraging this strength to attract and retain top talent.  In what ways does the company communicate and reinforce its core purpose and values among employees?   Our motto is 鈥淚n it for life鈥 鈥 so, for example, every year we celebrate in each site our 鈥淰ictory Over Diseases鈥 by communicating the new products that we are manufacturing, as well as the new patents and innovative ideas that contribute to fighting diseases and improving global health. Contributing to saving the lives of billions of people worldwide is a way to motivate our people to challenge themselves and push the limits of innovation. By celebrating our achievements and their impact, we inspire our teams to think creatively, embrace new challenges, and contribute to solutions that make a real difference in the world. It麓s an invitation to live our purpose.  Macau was the first site in the region to earn Top Employer certification last year and has renewed it this year. What unique challenges and successes have been experienced in achieving and maintaining this status in Macau?   Macau is unique. It鈥檚 the only site in this industry in the territory, so we have taken advantage of that to differentiate ourselves as an employer by collaborating with universities and local authorities to offer career opportunities and benefits that are a reference in the region.  What areas have you identified for continuous improvement in workplace practices and employee satisfaction in the future?   We will continue to strengthen our employee value proposition by mapping the employee journey and addressing every touchpoint to enhance the overall experience. Both people and business needs are constantly changing. It requires continuous adaptation of processes to meet evolving expectations. If I had to highlight one key focus, it would be alumni engagement. The 四色AV community is extensive and goes beyond our current team members. We see a clear opportunity to create an alumni program to stay connected with those who have been part of our journey.    Read the full article on themedicinemaker.com    

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Three is the magic number for 四色AV as it鈥檚 once again been certified as a top employer. For the third consecutive year, all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon, Cork, East Windsor in USA, and Macau - have been certified as Top Employers by the Top Employers Institute. 四色AV is an international integrated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organisation. This certification follows, 四色AV said, a rigorous audit process. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer, 四色AV, explained: 鈥淭his recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire 四色AV team. 四色AV is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. 鈥淭ogether, as One 四色AV, we are committed to continuously refining our practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step,鈥 Jean-Luc added. Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board, 四色AV, said: 鈥淭his distinction underscores our unwavering commitment to our people. At 四色AV, we design our HR systems and processes to ensure that every team member enjoys a consistent and fulfilling experience, regardless of their role, function, or location.鈥 Imelda Cummins, HR Director for 四色AV Ireland, said: 鈥淭his distinguished accreditation is a testament to our commitment to establish frameworks to attract, engage and retain top talent. We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and this recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team who strive every day to foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Receiving the Top Employer accreditation is motivation for us to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be an exceptional employer.鈥 四色AV recently celebrated the opening of a multi-million euro expansion at its site in Ringaskiddy, which almost doubled the capacity of its spray drying facilities.   Read the full article on CorkIndependent.com  

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四色AV has once again solidified its position as a top employer in all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ, USA), and Macau. The program highlights the company鈥檚 significant advancements in several critical areas, including Purpose & Values, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Employer Branding, and Recognition & Rewards, driven by sustained investment in people. This certification from the Top Employers Institute follows a rigorous audit process and underscores 四色AV鈥檚 consistency in investing in people and world-class workplace practices, as well as the unwavering commitment of its more than 2,300 employees to the company's core purpose and values.  鈥淭his recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire 四色AV team,鈥 said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer. 鈥溗纳獳V is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. Together, as One 四色AV, we are committed to continuously refining our people practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step.鈥 Macau, which became the first company in the region to achieve Top Employer certification last year, has successfully renewed the status, solidifying 四色AV鈥檚 global leadership in workplace excellence. With its consistent Top Employer recognition, 四色AV demonstrates that the talent strategy is perfectly aligned with the business strategy. Watch Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board of 四色AV, video about what this certification means for 四色AV.   For additional information, please read the press release.  

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