Joost Holthuis
Chair, independent non-executive director
Joost Holthuis is the founder and former CEO of OctoPlus, a Dutch drug delivery company. During that time, he built up and successfully listed the company on Euronext. OctoPlus was acquired by Dr. Reddy’s in 2013. Joost was CEO and co-founder in 2011 of Cristal Therapeutics. He is also partner of the Dutch venture capital firm BioGeneration Ventures. Joost holds a MSc degree in Pharmacy from Leiden University and a PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Utrecht University.
Craig Johnstone
Dr. Craig is an independent consultant and strategic advisor with more than 30 years of experience across drug discovery, development, and manufacturing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Evotec SE, where he oversaw global operations, international manufacturing facilities, and a workforce of more than 3,500 employees. During his tenure, Evotec expanded from 3,000 to 5,000 employees, increased annual revenues from €445 million to €800 million, and completed a NASDAQ dual listing.
Prior to Evotec, he held several senior leadership positions at AstraZeneca, where he pioneered the implementation of Lean methodologies in R&D and co-invented vandetanib (Caprelsa®), an approved treatment for medullary thyroid cancer.
Johan Sebregts
Investor non-executive director
Johan Sebregts is cofounder and managing partner of KIKK capital and the Zeeland Investment fund. Johan is a successful entrepreneur who sold his company in 2000. After that, he was partner in a regional development firm and was founder and director of the start-up program Starterslift. Johan holds a MSc degree in Social Geography from the University of Amsterdam.
Giel Hendriks
CEO, Executive director
Giel Hendriks is founder and CEO of Toxys. In 2014, Giel obtained financing to create Toxys. In 2016 he secured financing to begin operations in an independent laboratory located at the Leiden Bio Science Park and developed the company into an internationally recognised biotech company and contract research organisation (CRO) specializing in chemical safety testing. Prior to that, he worked as scientist in genetic toxicology at the Leiden University Medical Center. Giel holds a MSc degree in Molecular Biology and a PhD degree in Cell Biology from Utrecht University.
Susan Swarte
Independent non-executive director
Susan Swarte serves as a CFO at Olympia since 2018. Prior to that, she held the position of CFO at Van Hessen Group, Nederlandse Staatsloterij and ReCor Medical Inc and OctoPlus NV. Susan is a successful and driven financial expert who has served as a non-executive board member at multiple companies, including Generali NV, Heineken Netherlands and Newtricious. Susan holds a MSc degree in Business Economics from the Erasmus University and a RC degree from the VU in Amsterdam.
