12 Questions with Giancarlo Benelli
Giancarlo Benelli brings over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, rooted in his unique journey from surgery and military service. As SVP and Head of Europe at BeiGene, he emphasises uniting science with policy and advocacy to drive equitable access to innovative oncology medicines, highlighting his passion for advancing personalised solutions for patients with rare and hard-to-treat conditions.
What are the main responsibilities of your current role? As the Head of Europe at BeiGene, I am fortunate to lead a team of incredible people who are, like me, inspired by BeiGene’s mission to expand access to the highest quality therapies to more people around the world. In my role, I will be developing and empowering teams to help realise this mission by delivering our innovative medicines faster, more equitably, and affordably in Europe.
What is your background prior to this role and how did it prepare you for the work you do now? I have always put patients at the centre of what I do. I trained as a surgeon before moving into the pharmaceutical industry, where I have built a career leading teams to drive growth across many European markets. I’ve worked in leadership roles throughout my career, including at Novartis, where my role was also to bring new treatment options to cancer patients. It really prepared me for this position at BeiGene, leading our European operations and working with our talented teams to bring oncology medicines to more patients.
What is your personal mission statement? What values keep you centred in your work? I am always looking for the ‘why’ we do the work we do. I believe in combining human values such as trust and faith as an extension of science. Respect is also a critical value for me – respect for each other, as well as for life beyond work, like wellbeing and family. Additionally, openness to share and receive ideas, feedback, and perspectives is important to help each of us grow and is a critical way we can improve as a team.
What are your biggest short-term goals for this year? My overall goal is to ensure patient access to our medicines, both those in our current portfolio and our future assets. My goals for 2025 are to build on the impressive work the team here has already done and to have a transformative year, increasing our presence in Europe, solidifying our leadership in the region, achieving our financial targets, and continuing to develop our people to further contribute to the overall company growth.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the industry right now? One of the biggest challenges the industry is currently facing is the inequity in access to treatments across the world. Disparities in access to treatments are vast, with some patients waiting years to access treatment, whereas others have access very quickly depending on their location, even within Europe. While recent changes to legislation, such as the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation, aim to speed up access to innovative treatment options, these will still take some time to implement and be fruitful for patients. BeiGene is working closely with health authorities across Europe to find solutions to ensure eligible patients can access our treatments rapidly.
What excites you most about current industry trends? I have always been an advocate for the power of technology. The potential of AI-driven discovery of medicines is very real and very exciting, especially the role it can play in personalised medicines for cancer patients. But perhaps more importantly is the potential role AI has in early screening and detection of cancer. This could be game-changing.
How do you foster diversity in your workplace? As a global company, we welcome individuals from all different backgrounds to work and collaborate with us. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in diverse teams with people from different countries, religions, and cultures. The beauty of diversity is that you learn so much from each individual, and it enriches you. I’m glad to see that diversity already exists at BeiGene. We’re best together when diverse perspectives join forces, enhancing our ability to innovate, solve challenges, and work towards our shared goal of improving patient outcomes.
How do you promote patient-centricity in your workplace? Everything we do is for the patient and we keep our mission to deliver innovative treatments to more patients at the front of our minds at all times. We must continue to listen to patients across every aspect of our work – from designing clinical trial protocols to involving individuals during access and reimbursement procedures. Hearing from and speaking to patients about their stories always has an enormous impact on me. I encourage everyone to think about these stories in their day-to-day job, whatever their role is at BeiGene.
What advice would you give to a young person starting out in your field? This industry has so many possibilities for so many different talents. Take as many opportunities as possible, be curious, never be afraid to ask questions, and hold yourself accountable for your actions. Also, be open to making lateral moves in your career because career paths are not always straight lines to follow. I have worked in diverse roles within companies, not always on a straight path, but moving between departments and countries to gain experience and learn from all. They’ve all brought me here where I am meant to be now.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time? I love to spend time with my fantastic wife and our two daughters. My family is my biggest motivation. I go to soccer games every other Sunday with my wife as we’re both big fans of the game, and it gives us some time together. As for my daughters, just seeing them thrive and have so much fun with their various clubs and hobbies brings me joy.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? To be able to fly – this would save lots of time between meetings! Or to freeze time to enjoy life with family and friends. It would also allow me to see more from above. Sometimes, changing perspectives helps us understand where we are and if we are moving in the right direction.
How do you manage health, fitness and wellness in your life? I’m an active person and I like to be outdoors and do work that involves my hands – maybe that’s the surgical training coming out! At home, you’ll find me in the garden enjoying nature or renovating part of the house. Both can be physically challenging activities, but allow me to switch off mentally and just focus on the task at hand.
Connect with Giancarlo Benelli on LinkedIn.
