Steve Sabus appointed to General Manager of Astellas Pharma Canada; Lynn Fenicchia Gerber and Kevin O'Keefe promoted to new roles in U.S. Sales Organization

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas today announced that Steve Sabus has been named general manager of Astellas Pharma Canada (APCA), effective April 1, 2018. In his new role, he will lead business operations in the country, which for the second consecutive year was recently recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Canada by the Great Place To Work Institute.

Sabus will report to Percival Barretto-Ko, senior vice president, International Operations at Astellas and will be based in Markham, Ontario. Michael Tremblay, who has served as president of APCA since June 2010, will be retiring from Astellas and his 42 year career in the pharmaceutical industry.

"I have great confidence in Steve Sabus' ability to continue the growth of Astellas Canada, an important market in the Americas," said Barretto-Ko. "Steve's outstanding leadership and extensive experience in sales and marketing will help ensure that our ongoing commitment to therapies in oncology, urology, immunology and other areas will focus on Canadian patients' needs."

Sabus, who joined Astellas in 2007, has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He most recently served as vice president, Primary Care, Specialty, Hospital and Transplant sales at Astellas US, where he led the successful launches of Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) and CRESEMBA® (isavuconazonium sulfate), while exceeding revenue and operating income targets.

Prior to Astellas, he had a successful career at Johnson & Johnson, where he held various leadership positions for more than 16 years, including regional sales director. Sabus holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa with a specialty in marketing and sales management.

With Sabus' departure from his former role at Astellas Pharma US, Astellas announced two senior-level changes in the U.S. Sales and Marketing organization within the company's Urology and Hospital Business Unit.

Lynn Fenicchia Gerber has been promoted to U.S. vice president, Primary Care, Specialty, Hospital and Transplant sales where she will lead sales efforts for the OAB, Anti-fungal, Cardiovascular and Transplant franchises. Kevin O'Keefe has been promoted to U.S. area vice president, sales, Primary Care and Specialty – West, where he will be responsible for overseeing sales efforts and developing talent within the sales force.

"Serving patients impacted by fungal infections, organ transplants, heart disease and overactive bladder is a priority for Astellas," said Walt Johnston, senior vice president, Urology and Hospital Business Unit. "Lynn and Kevin bring extensive experience in healthcare leadership, broad knowledge of our industry and Astellas therapies, as well as deep compassion for patients – a combination of qualities that exemplify Astellas' patient-focused culture."

Gerber joined Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. — which merged with Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to create Astellas — in 2003 and was previously at GSK. She has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of sales leadership, marketing and operations.

Throughout her career, Gerber has participated in professional and industry organizations focused on leadership. She's a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) and was named an HBA Luminary Award winner in 2015 for her commitment to coaching and development.

Gerber graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in biology from East Carolina University, a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. Gerber is based in the Chicago area and will report to Walt Johnston, senior vice president, Urology and Hospital Business Unit.

O'Keefe has 27 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with 20 years in sales leadership. Most recently, O'Keefe was the Senior Area Sales Director in the Hospital Division leading a team of Regional Sales Managers responsible for the company's Anti-fungal, Cardiovascular and Transplant franchises. O'Keefe joined Astellas in 2007 as a Regional Sales Manager.

Prior to joining Astellas, O'Keefe worked with Bayer and Oscient in roles of increasing responsibility, including sales leadership, development and training. O'Keefe earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in finance and computer information systems from Baylor University. He will be based in Houston working with a team of sales directors, reporting to Lynn Gerber, along with David Musselman, U.S. area vice president, sales, Primary Care and Specialty – East and Greg Radenbaugh, National Vice President, Hospital sales.

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at http://www.astellas.us/. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS and @AstellasCA, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.

SOURCE Astellas Americas