Dirk Schrader is a pharmacist with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology and brings extensive senior leadership experience in global pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. He has held regional and global technical and commercial leadership roles at leading companies including Bayer HealthCare, Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Vifor Pharma, and Insud Pharma. He co-founded a technology start-up, which was acquired by BioNTech SE in 2023. Since then, he has been active as an advisor and consultant to the pharmaceutical and food (dietary supplements) industries. Most recently, he supported the buyer in the acquisition of Konapharma (Pratteln, Switzerland), where he currently serves as part-time Chief Operating Officer.