Interesting to see Søren Thinggaard Hansen has joined Denmark-based pharmaceutical firm Novo as a senior partner to set up a private equity initiative to complement its existing corporate venturing strategy.
The moves comes just as Novo agreed to purchase US-based genomics therapy developer Corvidia Therapeutics for up to $2.1bn, enabling pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca and kidney dialysis equipment producer Fresenius Medical Care to exit.
Novo is stepping up its engagement with top startups by using corporate venturing strategies to acquire stakes in public companies and apply value-added support and now with Hansen joining it can layer on private equity approaches to bigger deals and buyouts.
Hansen had previously spent more than 17 years at local pension fund Industriens Pension, mainly as head of private equity.
We are seeing other corporations doing similar whether it is BP with its Launchpad unit or Tencent or Merck and others. As the industry professionalises the lines between public and private and across alternative investment strategies will blur further.
Separately, our partner, Patty Burke, has an offer for a free virtual conference on 25 June featuring many of Center for Creative Leadership’s top researchers and thought leaders: ‘Shift Forward: A Virtual Leadership Conference for the Transformed World. https://www.linkedin.com/events/shiftforward-avirtualleadershipconferenceforthetra/
