Corporate Governance & Management team
Board of directors
François Blondel
Mr. Blondel is Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of KiOmed Pharma.
He has acquired a broad experience in the management and the development of innovation driven companies. Having graduated in both Law and Economics, nowadays he combines executive functions (as CEO...
Mr. Blondel is Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of KiOmed Pharma.
He has acquired a broad experience in the management and the development of innovation driven companies. Having graduated in both Law and Economics, nowadays he combines executive functions (as CEO of KitoZyme) with non-executive board memberships, either as Chairman of the Board or as an independant Board member. The companies in which he is, or has been, active range from SMEs, spin-offs and research centers, such as DELPHI GENETICS, OncoDNA, NANOCYL, CERTECH, KAZIDOMI, OVIZIO Imaging Systems, etc. which are active in the technology, medical, healthcare or digital sectors, to major listed companies, such as COMPAGNIE du BOIS SAUVAGE, RECTICEL or CASTERMAN/EVADIX.
Mr. Blondel started his career in the chemical sector and undertook assignments both in the United States and in Europe, for the French group TOTAL. In 1999, he joined International Brachytherapy (IBt), a medical device start-up that focused on cancer treatment. He served as CEO, leading IBt from its R&D stage to a successful and well-diversified international group that became a European leader in its market segment and a NYSE-Euronext stock listed company.
Dr. Houtaï Choumane
Dr. Choumane has been CEO and Managing Director of KiOmed Pharma since its inception in 2014.
He has acquired nearly 20 years’ experience in product development, executive management and business development of innovative biotech companies.
Dr. Choumane acquired...
Dr. Choumane has been CEO and Managing Director of KiOmed Pharma since its inception in 2014.
He has acquired nearly 20 years’ experience in product development, executive management and business development of innovative biotech companies.
Dr. Choumane acquired experience in osteoarthritis markets as former CEO of Artialis S.A (BE) (2012-2014), a first-mover biotech company that specialized in the development and the clinical applications of biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of musculoskeletal disorders. As CEO, he drove and accelerated (2002-2010) value creation at Genewave (acquired by mobidiag https://mobidiag.com) a Paris-based development-stage diagnostics company that develops innovative molecular solutions to advance the diagnosis of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistances.
He has a highly diverse background that combines a technical element (he holds a PhD in Sciences) and business administration (he received an Executive MBA from HEC-Paris), as well as a Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Babson College (MA, USA).
Benoit Fellin
Benoît Fellin is an investment manager at Noshaq and director of WHITE fund. He is also a non-executive member of several biotech spin-offs and SMEs in the healthcare and industrial business sectors.
In 2003, he graduated in Business Administration at the University of Liège...
Benoît Fellin is an investment manager at Noshaq and director of WHITE fund. He is also a non-executive member of several biotech spin-offs and SMEs in the healthcare and industrial business sectors.
In 2003, he graduated in Business Administration at the University of Liège and started his career supporting entrepreneurs with the creation and development of early-stage projects. He decided to offer operational services to 2-3 customers (inter-CFO, strategic, and operational consulting).
In 2019, Benoît and one of his colleagues created WHITE FUND, a new private early stage investment fund based in Belgium, which is entirely dedicated to the medical device sector.
Caroline Thielen
Caroline THIELEN is Investment Manager - Life Sciences at S.R.I.W. (Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie) and Board Member of several biotech and medtech companies. Over the past 20 years, Caroline has gained solid experience in coordinating research projects at national and...
Caroline THIELEN is Investment Manager - Life Sciences at S.R.I.W. (Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie) and Board Member of several biotech and medtech companies. Over the past 20 years, Caroline has gained solid experience in coordinating research projects at national and international levels. From 2013 to 2020, she has served as Chief Operating Officer of Bridge2Health, a major player in the development and reinforcement of the healthcare sector in connection with the academic research at ULiège and CHU de Liège. Caroline holds a Master’s degree in Biology and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Liège completed by a postdoctoral training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, USA).
Read moreMarc Nolet
Mr. Nolet is Director of KiOmed Pharma.
Marc Nolet de Brauwere obtained his Master’s degree as a Mining Civil Engineer from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) in 1982, then specialized as a Civil Engineer in Industrial Management at the Katholiek Universiteit Leuven (KUL)...
Mr. Nolet is Director of KiOmed Pharma.
Marc Nolet de Brauwere obtained his Master’s degree as a Mining Civil Engineer from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) in 1982, then specialized as a Civil Engineer in Industrial Management at the Katholiek Universiteit Leuven (KUL) in 1983. He started his career in 1984, as Manager of the Engineering department at Petrofina (Kentucky Prince Coal Corporation). In 1978, he also took charge of the development of a downstream activity (gold mining) at Chemetech Corporation. He served for these two companies until 1989, then moved on to McKinsey & Company, as an Associate.
In 1992, Marc created Dat International SA with an ex-colleague of McKinsey, and set up a distribution network specialized in supply parts from the EEC to local companies in East Africa. Finally, in 1997, he became CEO of Physiol SA. Besides, he was nominated Director at ETEX group in 2003, where he served as chairman of the Audit committee from 2006 to 2013. He became Chairman of the Nominations and Remunerations Committee in 2013. In addition, he became Director of Mecatech (2011), Biotech Coaching (2011), MyMicroInvest (2013) and EndoTools Therapeutics (2013). Since 2011 he also is a member of Ashoka Support Network since 2011.
Management Team
Houtaï Choumane
Dr. Choumane has been CEO and Managing Director of KiOmed Pharma since its inception in 2014.
He has acquired nearly 20 years’ experience in product development, executive management and business development of innovative biotech companies.
Dr. Choumane acquired...
Dr. Choumane has been CEO and Managing Director of KiOmed Pharma since its inception in 2014.
He has acquired nearly 20 years’ experience in product development, executive management and business development of innovative biotech companies.
Dr. Choumane acquired experience in osteoarthritis markets as former CEO of Artialis S.A (BE) (2012-2014), a first-mover biotech company that specialized in the development and the clinical applications of biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of musculoskeletal disorders. As CEO, he drove and accelerated (2002-2010) value creation at Genewave (acquired by mobidiag https://mobidiag.com) a Paris-based development-stage diagnostics company that develops innovative molecular solutions to advance the diagnosis of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistances.
He has a highly diverse background that combines a technical element (he holds a PhD in Sciences) and business administration (he received an Executive MBA from HEC-Paris), as well as a Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Babson College (MA, USA).
Hélène Bernard
Hélène Bernard, Chief Human Resources Officer, joined KiOmed Pharma in 2023. Graduating from the University of Liège with a Master's in Modern Languages, she has spent more than 20 years in the medical device sector. She dedicated the first part of her career to management roles in customer...
Hélène Bernard, Chief Human Resources Officer, joined KiOmed Pharma in 2023. Graduating from the University of Liège with a Master's in Modern Languages, she has spent more than 20 years in the medical device sector. She dedicated the first part of her career to management roles in customer service, including national and international sales.
Developing a growing interest in Human Resources matters, she then made a career shift and became a passionate HR leader and HR Business Partner, implementing HR strategy, processes, and policies, as well as talent management and talent development at both national and international levels. Hélène supports organizational and people development with a strong belief in collective intelligence. She combines strategic and tactical approaches, which enhances her adaptability.
Arnaud Loriers
Arnaud Loriers, Chief Business Officer Ophthalmology is working for KiOmed Pharma since June 2022. Graduated in Business Administration at ICHEC, he started his career in finance, cost control and audit in international corporations 20 years ago, he discovered the pharma world which became a...
Arnaud Loriers, Chief Business Officer Ophthalmology is working for KiOmed Pharma since June 2022. Graduated in Business Administration at ICHEC, he started his career in finance, cost control and audit in international corporations 20 years ago, he discovered the pharma world which became a real passion.
Since then he has acquired a broad experience at both national and international levels in several commercial and business management roles with a strong track record of market development & launches, pricing & tenders, commercial excellence & customer engagement and organization development in several therapeutic areas including vaccines, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology and rare diseases.
Michael ORegan
Michael O’Regan, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer OsteoArticular, is a seasoned Life Sciences executive with 25 years experience in a range of Biotech, Pharma and Med Tech organizations where he has focused on bridging the gap between technology and the marketplace.
Franck Villain
Franck VILLAIN is Chief Development Officer for Aesthetic Dermatology. He holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry. He has about 30 years of experience in the Medical Device Industry in the development of product or in Medical Affairs. He has a 28-year experience in hyaluronan and polysaccharides. He...
Franck VILLAIN is Chief Development Officer for Aesthetic Dermatology. He holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry. He has about 30 years of experience in the Medical Device Industry in the development of product or in Medical Affairs. He has a 28-year experience in hyaluronan and polysaccharides. He worked mainly in three fields aesthetic dermatology, ophthalmology, and rheumatology.
Read more