Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Hovione appoints Stefan Doboczky as CEO

Hovione Holding AG has named Stefan Doboczky as its next Chief Executive Officer. He is scheduled to take over operational leadership of the pharmaceutical technology and services group on April 1, 2027.

Doboczky currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, a role he has held since 2024. When he becomes CEO, he will step down from the chairmanship.

Return to the pharmaceutical sector

The appointment brings Doboczky back to the pharmaceutical industry. He spent more than 17 years at Royal DSM, where he became a member of the Executive Board and was responsible for the group’s global pharmaceutical activities as well as growth in Asia.

He later held CEO positions over an 11-year period at several industrial companies, including Lenzing AG, Heubach GmbH and Borealis AG. After Borealis, Borouge and NOVA Chemicals were combined into Borouge International, he became Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the merged group. He is expected to hand over those duties to a successor on October 1, 2026, while remaining available for a further six months to support the transition.

Succession process completed

Founded in 1959, Hovione is a family-owned group serving pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The company has more than 2,600 employees and operates four FDA-inspected production and R&D sites in Europe, the United States and China. Its technology focus includes spray drying and continuous tableting.

According to the company, the decision follows a broad succession process led by the Board of Directors. Hovione links the appointment to its ambition to strengthen its international role as a technology and services partner to the pharmaceutical industry.

Guy Villax, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Family Council, pointed to Doboczky’s understanding of Hovione, his international background and his experience in transforming companies. Doboczky said he sees the new role as an opportunity to return to the industry in which he spent a formative part of his career.

Until Doboczky takes office, Marco Gil and António Almeida will continue to lead the company during the interim co-CEO period.