The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has announced that Mark Samuels is to be its new chief executive.

Mr Samuels is a former executive at Roche and co-founder of the Medicines Discovery Catapult, helped found the Government’s office for clinical research infrastructure and spent seven years on England’s chief medical officer’s strategy board for health research. He replaces Warwick Smith who has led the organisation for 25 years.

He said: “I am excited to represent the generics and biosimilars sectors, which account for 80% of medicines needed by patients in the NHS.

“Generics and biosimilars save the NHS £15 billion each year, and the NHS would not be sustainable without them. And these medicines have proven crucial during the pandemic – people in our industry are working strenuously but successfully to provide the medicines for Intensive Care which let patients with Covid-19 to be treated on a ventilator for example. Looking ahead, the UK must learn Covid lessons – ensuring that the supply chain for generic medicines is resilient for a healthy future NHS.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Warwick’s immense contribution and industry leadership of many, many years. He leaves with the utmost gratitude for his efforts and with everyone’s best wishes for the future.”

Warwick Smith said: “I am delighted that the BGMA has secured such an experienced and able new CEO for the association in Mark. The generics, and latterly biosimilars, industry has developed immeasurably during my time working within it. But the core ethos of making sure the right medicine reaches the right patient at the right time has remained our foremost objective.

“This aim has never been more tested than in the past year, but it has been a testament to all participants in the supply chain that medicines have reached patients despite the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.”

Peter Ballard, BGMA Chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the association. He brings significant experience from his time both within industry and working closely with Government. He is passionate about serving patients and the NHS which are our principal priorities as an organisation.

“I would also like to place on the record my enormous thanks and gratitude to Warwick. His tenure leading the association has been extraordinary and we will greatly miss his experience, skill-set and wisdom. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”