Kyowa Kirin International Appoints Julie Dehaene-Puype as President, Ushering in a New Era of Leadership and Growth
Kyowa Kirin International (“KKI”), a regional group company of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151), a leading Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of Julie Dehaene-Puype as its new President for the International Region, effective November 1, 2025. The appointment marks a pivotal leadership transition for the organization, as it continues to strengthen its global presence and pursue its long-term vision of delivering life-changing therapies and advancing care in specialty areas such as rare diseases and oncology.
Dehaene-Puype succeeds Jeremy Morgan, who has served as President for the International Region since 2023. During his tenure, Morgan oversaw significant transformation and growth within the company, steering KKI through a period of strategic evolution, operational stabilization, and renewed focus on its core mission—improving patients’ lives across international markets. Morgan will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity until the end of 2025, ensuring a seamless and effective leadership transition in close collaboration with Dehaene-Puype.
A New Chapter for Kyowa Kirin International
The appointment of Julie Dehaene-Puype represents not only a leadership change but also the beginning of a new chapter for Kyowa Kirin International, a company known for its scientific innovation, patient-centric mission, and collaborative spirit.
“We are very pleased to welcome Julie to the company in the role of President of KKI,” said Tomohiro Sudo, Chief International Business Officer of Kyowa Kirin. “Julie joins us with extensive experience in global biotech and pharma spanning a 25-year career. I am confident that her expertise, together with her strong passion and care for people and patients, will significantly contribute to KKI’s future growth and the achievement of our mission—creating smiles for patients. We are looking forward to working in partnership with her toward our Vision for 2030.”
Kyowa Kirin’s Vision for 2030 aims to position the company as a global leader in life-changing medicines by combining cutting-edge science with a deep understanding of patients’ needs. The addition of Dehaene-Puype to the leadership team aligns with this ambition, bringing fresh strategic insight, commercial acumen, and a people-centered approach to the company’s global operations.
Recognizing the Contributions of Jeremy Morgan
As the company embraces this new phase, Kyowa Kirin leadership also took the opportunity to honor the significant contributions of Jeremy Morgan, whose guidance and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the current trajectory of KKI.
“I want to thank Jeremy Morgan on behalf of Kyowa Kirin,” said Abdul Mullick, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Kyowa Kirin. “For his unwavering leadership, his care for KKI employees, and his consistent commitment to putting patients first. From the moment Jeremy joined KKI, he brought purpose, clarity, and energy to the organization and to the communities we serve. We thank Jeremy for the lasting impact he has made while at the helm of Kyowa Kirin, and for leading the business through transformation into a stable, growing organization that truly lives our purpose—to make people smile.”
Morgan’s tenure saw Kyowa Kirin International expand its footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and other international markets, while focusing on organizational resilience and operational excellence. His leadership has helped establish a foundation upon which Dehaene-Puype will now build, continuing the company’s evolution as a globally integrated specialty pharmaceutical leader.
Julie Dehaene-Puype: A Leader with Global Experience and Vision
Julie Dehaene-Puype brings to Kyowa Kirin more than 25 years of global pharmaceutical experience, spanning general management, commercial operations, regulatory affairs, and new product development. Her distinguished career includes leadership roles at some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical organizations, including Mundipharma, Takeda, Merck/MSD, and Schering-Plough.
She also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Lytix Biopharma, contributing her strategic expertise to the governance of innovative biopharmaceutical enterprises.
Dehaene-Puype’s leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, inclusion, and a commitment to translating scientific innovation into meaningful patient outcomes. Her extensive background in building and transforming teams across geographies makes her ideally positioned to lead Kyowa Kirin International as it continues to expand its presence in key therapeutic areas and strengthen its regional partnerships.
A Message from the New President
“I am thrilled to be joining Kyowa Kirin—a company with a 76-year legacy of science, innovation, and partnership, and a deep commitment to advancing care in rare diseases and oncology,” said Julie Dehaene-Puype. “From my first days, I can already feel the passion and drive of the people at KKI, united by a shared purpose: to make more people smile. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to deliver even more for the patients who place their trust in us.”
Her words reflect the core of Kyowa Kirin’s mission—to integrate compassion and scientific excellence into every aspect of its operations. The company’s motto, “Make People Smile,” encapsulates this commitment, representing both an emotional and ethical promise to patients, healthcare professionals, and communities around the world.
An International Career Built on Science and Strategy
Dehaene-Puype’s educational and professional background underscores her credibility as both a scientist and a strategist. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, and a Master’s in Biological and Medical Sciences from the University of Lille, France.
Her career has been defined by a cross-functional understanding of how innovation reaches patients—through research, regulation, and responsible commercialization. Over the years, she has lived and worked in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States, gaining a truly global perspective on the challenges and opportunities in today’s pharmaceutical landscape.
Currently residing in Switzerland, Dehaene-Puype will maintain a regular presence at Kyowa Kirin International’s headquarters in Marlow, United Kingdom, and visit country offices throughout the region to engage with teams, partners, and stakeholders.
Her multinational experience and scientific expertise are expected to play a vital role in driving KKI’s regional strategy, particularly as the organization deepens its engagement in therapeutic areas with high unmet needs, such as oncology, nephrology, immunology, and rare diseases.
A Period of Transformation and Continued Growth
The leadership transition at Kyowa Kirin International is part of a broader evolution within Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., which earlier this year introduced a new dual CEO-COO leadership structure to strengthen its global governance and accelerate growth. Under this new structure, Abdul Mullick was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), tasked with overseeing global business operations and ensuring consistent alignment across regions.
This transformation reflects Kyowa Kirin’s ongoing effort to enhance agility, improve cross-functional collaboration, and ensure that regional entities like KKI can operate with both autonomy and alignment under a unified corporate vision.
As part of this strategy, KKI continues to expand its portfolio of specialty medicines and invest in research partnerships that advance innovation in areas where patient needs remain unmet. The appointment of a leader like Dehaene-Puype—who brings a rare combination of commercial expertise, scientific literacy, and people-centered management—positions the company to realize these ambitions more effectively.
Strengthening the Global Specialty Pharma Network
Kyowa Kirin’s global network spans Japan, Asia Pacific, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), and the Americas. The company has built its reputation as a Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company by leveraging advanced biotechnology platforms, antibody engineering capabilities, and a rich R&D heritage to develop treatments that make tangible differences in patients’ lives.
Under the new leadership of Dehaene-Puype, KKI is expected to intensify its focus on expanding access to Kyowa Kirin’s innovative therapies and enhancing operational excellence across its international markets. Her experience in navigating complex regulatory environments, launching new products, and managing cross-cultural teams will be critical as the organization deepens its commitment to global patient communities.
Kyowa Kirin’s Vision for 2030
Kyowa Kirin’s Vision 2030 is a strategic blueprint for sustainable growth, anchored in four key pillars: science, people, collaboration, and compassion. The company aims to be recognized globally as a leader in creating life-changing medicines through scientific innovation, while also nurturing a culture that celebrates empathy and inclusivity.
The appointment of Julie Dehaene-Puype as President of Kyowa Kirin International represents a decisive step forward in the company’s long-term growth strategy. As Kyowa Kirin continues to evolve as a truly global specialty pharmaceutical organization, Dehaene-Puype’s leadership will bring renewed energy, inclusivity, and focus to its mission.
With her extensive global experience, passion for patient impact, and proven ability to lead complex organizations through transformation, she is well-positioned to guide Kyowa Kirin International into its next era—one defined by scientific progress, patient-centric innovation, and a deep commitment to making people smile.
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