Boehringer Ingelheim appoints Vani Manja as Country MD for India

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced that Vani Manja is appointed Country MD for India, effective January 1, 2021. In this role, she will assume responsibility for the company’s businesses in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Manja will also join the Board of the Company.

She succeeds Sharad Tyagi, who retired from Boehringer Ingelheim India on December 31, 2020.

Announcing Vani’s appointment, Thorsten Poehl, Head of Emerging Markets, Boehringer Ingelheim said, “India presents a unique opportunity for Boehringer Ingelheim, wherein we affirm our commitment to patients and people in the country with our products and services. Vani is a proven and respected leader who lives our company values and has a strong track record of leading complex transformations and delivering results. With her unwavering commitment to patients, customers and employees, I am confident that Vani will lead the India business to build patient-friendly access and benefit models in the years to come.

He added, “At this juncture, I would like to thank Sharad for his leadership in building a strong foundation to Boehringer Ingelheim India’s business. He has been instrumental in executing a successful high-growth strategy. I wish Sharad a great life after retirement, and Vani a successful and fulfilling career in Boehringer Ingelheim India.”

Manja was formerly the Global Head of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Go-To-Market and Business Steering organisation, based in the company’s headquarters in Germany. She joined Boehringer Ingelheim in the US in 2011, working across Strategy & Operations, Marketing and Sales leadership roles before moving to Ingelheim in 2016 as Regional Business Manager for Japan. Her experience in healthcare spans nearly two decades across McKinsey & Company, Becton Dickinson and Boehringer Ingelheim. Prior to embarking on her international career, she served as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army Ordnance Corps.

She holds an MBA and MA in International Studies from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Chemistry from Delhi University.

Manja said, “I am excited and honoured to return to India to lead a successful organisation with a highly talented team. I look forward to working with our customers, partners and leaders in healthcare to improve the lives of patients through innovative therapies, after all the years of remotely following the huge strides India has taken towards developing healthcare.”