Chen Lichtenstein joins the Novo Holdings Advisory Group

Novo Holdings is pleased to announce the appointment of Chen Lichtenstein to the Novo Advisory Group (NAG), an expert panel of senior industry leaders that supports Novo Holdings in analysing and monitoring its life science investments.

With extensive leadership experience within biotech and related life science fields, Chen Lichtenstein brings deep industry knowledge and strategic insight to the NAG. His appointment further strengthens Novo Holdings’ commitment to making significant investments in the planetary health space.

Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings, said: “With his strong corporate and investment experience and track record for accelerating innovation and driving growth in relation to sustainable solutions, Chen possesses insights that will be valuable to the NAG. We very much look forward to working with Chen.”

Broad experience in life sciences, strategic and transformation leadership
Chen Lichtenstein has over 25 years of experience leading and running global life science companies. Since its formation in 2020 and through 2023, Chen was Chief Financial Officer at Syngenta Group, where he also oversaw global strategy, integration and productivity initiatives.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Envu, a world leader within environmental health, and as a Member of the Board of Directors at Teva Pharmaceuticals, an innovator and the world’s largest provider of generic medicine, where he shares his expertise in corporate governance, strategy and operational excellence.

Previously, he served as President and CEO of ADAMA, a global leader in crop protection, where he led the company’s expansion and strategic development. He also served as President and CEO of China National Agrochemical Corporation (CNAC), the parent company of Syngenta Group, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s global business operations.

Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in New York and London, advising multinational corporations on financial strategy and corporate transactions.

Chen Lichtenstein said: “I am delighted to be joining the NAG and in this way support Novo Holdings’ mission of creating long-term value and societal impact through sustainable life science investments. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow advisory group members and the broader Novo Holdings team to identify new opportunities, support pioneering businesses and help shape the future of life sciences investments.”

About Chen Lichtenstein
Board positions

• Chairman of the Board, Envu

• Member of the Board, Teva Pharmaceuticals

Career highlights

• 2020–2023: Chief Financial Officer, Syngenta Group

• 2014–2020: President & CEO, ADAMA

• 2013–2014: President & CEO, China National Agrochemical Corporation (CNAC)

• 2006–2013: Deputy CEO & Head of Global Operations, ADAMA

• 1999–2006: Executive Director, Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs

Education
Chen holds a PhD in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a JSD from Stanford Law School. He also earned a BSc in Physics and an LLB from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

About Novo Holdings A/S
Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.  Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S (Novozymes A/S) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth, Asia, Planetary Health and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development.  As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion.  www.novoholdings.dk

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.