New Chief Will Bring A Certain Joie De Vivre To Pharmaceutical Job

The Age

Thursday November 17, 2005

REBECCA URBAN

JUST because Thierry Soursac is heading into a hectic few months familiarising himself with a new job doesn't mean he won't pause for a glass or two of champagne on New Year's Eve.

"I am French, after all," he said. "I love champagne."

Today Dr Soursac, the new chief executive of Mayne Pharma, will take part in a half-day meeting with his board, where an impending strategic review of the business will no doubt be the main topic of discussion. Then he will join Mayne's chief financial officer and investor relations manager on a four-day roadshow to investors in London, Zurich and Frankfurt.

Dr Soursac, who initially trained as an oncologist, has spent the past 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently with global giant Sanofi Aventis.

When he was approached about running Mayne Pharma after the demerger, he thought the company was simply a small generic player. But on closer inspection, he became increasingly excited about its growth prospects.

"I'm 48 years old and I've managed large pharma for a long, long time," he told The Age. "I had to decide whether I wanted to do something more different, more entrepreneurial and adventurous . . . in a field that I love and know very well, which is oncology."

Dr Soursac compared big companies to ships, in regards to the length of time it could sometimes take to change direction. He said he was attracted to Mayne Pharma also because of its compact board and potential to enact change and pursue emerging opportunities quickly.

Dr Soursac, who is divorced and does not have children, has been living in the United States for the past 15 years.

When he's not working, he enjoys outdoor activities, such as tennis, and regularly works out at a gym. He is also a huge opera fan and regular theatre-goer.

While Mayne Pharma's head office will remain for the time being in Melbourne, Dr Soursac will be based in London, given that the bulk of the company's business is done in the northern hemisphere.

© 2005 The Age

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