Rui Santos Ivo has been elected as the new Chair of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Management Board. Mr Santos Ivo takes over from Lorraine Nolan, who completed her tenure on 21 March 2025.
Mr Santos Ivo has been a member of the EMA Management Board since 2016 and has been the Vice Chair since October 2024. He steps into this new role for a three-year period.
Mr Santos Ivo, who has been President of the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, I.P (INFARMED) since June 2019, has over 30 years of experience in the industry, and holds a post-graduate degree in health management, health law and pharmaceutical legislation. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the industry, Mr Santos Ivo won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 TOPRA Awards for Regulatory Excellence.
He brings extensive knowledge and experience to the role, as expressed by Emer Cooke, the EMA’s Executive Director who said, ‘Rui brings a deep understanding of the European medicines regulatory system and has extensive experience within our network.’ She also said that ‘his knowledge will be crucial as EMA moves into its next strategic phase, including implementing our network strategy to 2028.’
Mr Santos Ivo has spoken of his intention to build essential partnerships with other national agencies and says it is a ‘great honour’ to be given the ‘leadership and responsibility to safeguard our high EU standards of human and animal health protection.’
TOPRA extends its congratulations to Mr Santos Ivo and wishes him continued success in this new role.
