Future-Ready Biomanufacturing!

The biopharmaceutical field is essential in developing innovative treatments that enhance global healthcare. With continuous advancements in biotechnology, companies focus on improving drug manufacturing processes to ensure quality, efficiency, and scalability. The demand for biologics and personalized medicine shapes how organizations approach production, pushing for more adaptable and globally flexible platforms. As regulatory expectations grow, industry players must integrate advanced technologies and streamlined operations to meet market needs while maintaining rigorous high compliance standards. Focusing on patient-centric solutions drives successful companies to rethink traditional models, leading to a more interconnected and efficient biomanufacturing network.

As the Senior Vice President of the CEO Office & Strategic Business Services, Maria Andreasen brings a strong leadership approach that prioritizes people, strategic execution, and unprecedented delivery. With a natural inclination toward leadership from an early age, she has consistently taken on roles that extend beyond expectations, inspiring those around her. Her passion for team development and strategic alignment allows her to shape forward-thinking initiatives, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly challenging environment. Maria’s ability to foster a culture of accountability and innovation enables organizations to execute ambitious goals while maintaining a focus on developing a culture where employees are inspired to excel. Her leadership philosophy revolves around empowering individuals, making every working hour meaningful and fulfilling professionally and personally.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is leading the transformation of contract development and manufacturing within the biopharmaceutical sector. The company’s approach highlights a globally harmonized manufacturing network called kojoX™, that provides clients with scalable solutions tailored to the entire drug life cycle. By implementing innovative technologies and a modular strategy, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies addresses key industry challenges, ensuring efficiency, speed and supply chain flexibility in manufacturing, across Europe and the US. Its commitment to quality, operational excellence, and patient-focused solutions reinforces its reputation as a trusted partner in biologics & advanced therapies production. Through strategic investments in science, artificial intelligence, and global infrastructure, the company continues to strengthen its position as a leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and reliability in the industry.

Let’s explore Maria’s transformative leadership role in shaping biomanufacturing excellence:

Passion for People and Leadership

From the time Maria had her first job alongside her studies, she was placed in leadership roles in all jobs she has ever had. Taking this role by holistically caring and taking responsibility outside her primary duties is in her nature. From leading as a scout at the age of 12 to her first real job as a team-building instructor to her student job at IBM to her roles in one of the largest banks in Denmark – Danske Bank—in each job, she was asked to take on a leadership role within months of starting.

Having been in leadership roles for more than 25 years, she has found a passion for leading people and getting the best out of those around her.

Her journey with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies started as a consultant. She was a consultant who, four years ago, was brought in to help get the new greenfield facility off the ground in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

As part of this exciting project, she fell in love with the culture of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. The “people first” mindset, the visionary and ambitious goals ahead, and the true wish to make a difference for patients led her to pursue joining the company as a full-time employee.

Executing Visionary Ambitions

The functions Maria leads (CEO Office, Marketing, Corporate Affairs & Communications, Strategy, Business Intelligence, kojoX, and Strategic Business Development) shape the strategic direction of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. This includes owning the strategy based on market intel, managing the brand, and how the company communicates to investors, clients, and employees.

Enabling the executive leadership team to function effective and align on the company’s future direction, she ensures development and execution of the corporate strategy and the realization of its kojoX ambitions.

She reflects that kojoX represents a transformative approach to biopharmaceutical manufacturing, offering FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and its partners a flexible, reliable, and globally consistent platform for success. By standardizing operations across geographies, kojoX minimizes risks associated with navigating regulatory complexities, enhances quality and compliance, and provides the agility required to achieve supply chain flexibility and security across Europe and United States.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies addresses these challenges through its global modular approach. While some companies might use modular manufacturing at a single site, FDB’s fully modular network spans multiple locations and continents, a first-of-its-kind in the industry. This approach brings customers the speed, flexibility, and scalability they require.

With a global network of harmonized facilities utilizing cutting-edge technologies, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies offers unparalleled capacity to efficiently scale up drug substance production through the entire drug life cycle—from early clinical development to high-volume commercial manufacturing. This capability includes progression from Cell Line Development, Process Development, <2K, 2K, 5K to 20K volumes effectively addressing partner needs at every stage. Even more uniquely, the modularity enables scaling and flexibility to move easily from site to site across Europe and United States for their partners as their supply chain needs might change. This strength in flexibility and scaling distinguishes FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies from its competitors.

Responsibility and Individuality in Leadership

Maria is inspired by Marcus Buckingham’s “Nine Lies About Work” and Morten Albæk’s “One Life.” Both leadership philosophies outline that it’s not about managing people or managing tasks but about seeing the individual being led and taking that leadership responsibility seriously. As a leader, one is responsible for most of the hours employees are awake daily—and should strive to make those hours meaningful and value-adding—both for the company and, equally significantly, the individual. They only have one life!

Success Aligned with Company Ambition

Success in her role is FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ success. The company aims to quadruple its revenue by 2030, and as a member of the executive leadership team, Maria’s success is directly linked to that goal. FDB will only reach that goal if it is successful in its strategy and execution and if the functions she leads all work in harmony.

Exploring Alternative Learning Paths

Maria considers herself fortunate to be part of the Executive Leadership Team at age 38, learning from peers who are 10 20 years older. She studies their leadership and takes inspiration from each of them. Her learning curve is steep, which she appreciates. Additionally, she seeks out alternative learning methods through networks, coaching, and mentorship.

Work-Life Integration

Strategies She has two daughters (ages 7 and 10), so naturally, she must be there for them every day. Maria doesn’t see work as something that has to happen from 8 to 5 but plans her life more fluidly. Right now, while her kids are small, she typically blocks out specific hours as “family” time each day depending on when they need her, and then she makes sure to make efficient use of the time slots they won’t notice—when they sleep, have swim lessons, or are at Girl Scouts, for example.

She also makes it a big deal to be present where she is—so when she is with the kids, she will not check her email. She would lie if she said this was easy—it is not! But it is possible to fit it all in if she is willing to work a bit from the waiting room by the pool.

Building a Consistent Global Network

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ kojoX strategy stands out, especially in today’s geopolitical environment. FDB is unique in its approach to building a network from the ground up, which is nearly identical across sites to enable clients dual sourcing abilities across Europe and the US. In addition, the company invests in AI, science, and innovation, using its innovation hub in Japan to develop better and more advanced manufacturing solutions continuously.

Responsibility Beyond Job Titles

Maria’s best advice to aspiring leaders is always to treat their responsibility as though they were the company’s CEO—not just looking at the job title they have or function they are in. Suppose they continuously take responsibility for the company’s success and act for the best of the entire company. In that case, they will quickly learn their area of responsibility, the company, and how to run a profitable business. By keeping their learning curve steep, they will progress quickly, and their job will be more rewarding.

Expanding the kojoX Network

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is transforming the CDMO industry from traditional transactional models to a partnership model emphasizing the benefits of being true Partners for Life. It is expanding and organically building its kojoX network across the US and Europe to support the end-to-end needs for its clients while enabling partnerships through a genuine focus on building trust. Trust in employees, authorities, clients, and patients.

Leading with Purpose and Passion

Maria has several hopes for what she is leaving behind. She hopes to be a role model for women wanting a career in executive leadership. . She hopes to inspire people to find a healthy balance between family and work and show that mothers of younger children can drive a career while being good mothers. She hopes to demonstrate how leadership driven by passion and a people-oriented approach can make a difference – also on the business profitability.

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