Fujifilm Biotechnologies has announced a significant leadership transition, naming Maja Pedersen as President in addition to her existing role as Chief Operating Officer.
The appointment takes effect immediately and marks a deliberate evolution in the company’s leadership structure as it moves into its next phase of growth.
As part of the transition, the company is retiring the CEO title entirely, signalling a shift in how the organisation will be led going forward.
Lars Petersen, who previously served as President and CEO, will move into a Strategic Advisor role, a position he will hold through September 30, 2026.
Petersen guided Fujifilm Biotechnologies through a significant period of transformation under the Partners for Life strategy, which reshaped the company’s operational and commercial direction.
During his tenure, Petersen oversaw the construction of the kojoX global manufacturing network, which expanded the company’s international footprint across key biopharma markets.
His leadership helped establish Fujifilm Biotechnologies as one of the world’s leading contract development and manufacturing organisations, known in the industry as a CDMO.
Pedersen brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in life sciences and biopharma to her expanded role, with a background spanning quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and external manufacturing.
She returned to Fujifilm Biotechnologies in 2023 as Chief Quality Officer before being elevated to Chief Operating Officer in 2025, where she took responsibility for site operations, supply chain, quality, process development, and global manufacturing science and technology.
Prior to rejoining the company, Pedersen served as Global Head of External Manufacturing at Biogen, where she oversaw the entire CDMO network on a global basis.
In her current COO capacity, she has already demonstrated a strong operational grip across the business, positioning her well to take on broader presidential responsibilities.
The restructured leadership arrangement reflects a broader industry trend among CDMOs, where operational leaders with deep scientific and quality backgrounds are increasingly being elevated to the top of the organisational chart.
Fujifilm Biotechnologies has not indicated any further structural changes to its executive team at this stage, with Pedersen expected to lead the company into its next strategic chapter.