Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Member of the Corporate Executive Board
Jan Adams, M. D., Chief Commercial Officer
“I strive to build and nurture an inclusive and collaborative work environment so that we can deliver the best treatments for patients.”
Jan Adams, M. D., assumed the role of Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Corporate Executive Board in October 2024. Since 2019, he had led Grünenthal's R&D organisation as Chief Scientific Officer and Member of the Corporate Executive Board. He has over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.
Since joining Grünenthal in 2017, he has played a key role in driving the company's transformational journey. Under his leadership, Grünenthal successfully built a state-of-the-art R&D organisation, redefined its R&D strategy, and built an industry-leading pipeline focused on delivering innovative treatments for acute and chronic pain. Before assuming the role of CSO, he served as Head of Strategy and Portfolio, working at the interface between Strategy, R&D and Commercial. His role was instrumental in several successful M&A projects and Grünenthal’s entry into the US market.
Before joining Grünenthal, he held positions with increasing responsibilities at Takeda, McKinsey & Company and Novartis. Jan Adams started his career as a resident in cardiology. He is a Medical Doctor by training, married and has two children.
Jan Adams at a glance
Nationality: German
Year of birth: 1977
Education: Medical Doctor (MD) at Medical Schools in Kiel, Frankfurt and Sydney; Doctoral Thesis at Goethe University Frankfurt
Family status: Married, two children.
Leisure time: My 2 daughters, travelling, hiking.
Career highlights
Since 2024: Member of the Corporate Executive Board and Chief Commercial Officer, Grünenthal
2020-2024: Member of the Corporate Executive Board and Chief Scientific Officer, Grünenthal
2019: Deputy/Acting Chief Scientific Officer, Grünenthal
2017 – 2019: Senior Vice President & Head Corporate Strategy and Portfolio Management, Grünenthal
2016-2017: Vice President & Head R&D Strategic Management and Planning, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2008-2016: Associate Principal, McKinsey & Company
2005-2007: Project Leader Cardiovascular and Hemostaseology, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Novartis Pharma
2004 – 2005: Resident at Hannover Medical School (MHH)