Company: AstraZeneca, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Nomination Submitted by: Global Health Strategies
Company Description: AstraZeneca is a leading global biopharmaceutical company devoted to developing innovative medicines that change lives. With operations in diverse therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, and respiratory diseases, it continues to make significant strides in the global healthcare landscape.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Executive of the Year in Europe, the Middle East & Africa
 Nomination Title: Dr Pelin Incesu
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 166 words used.
Since July 2021, Dr Incesu has spearheaded several transformative projects. She drove business growth across the region, leading to AstraZeneca MEA exceeding $1 billion in sales and launching 53 new medicines in 2022. In late 2022, she established a strategic partnership with (Qure.AI). Under her direction, AstraZeneca and Qure.AI rolled out programs for early diagnosis of lung cancer and heart failure, showcasing the potential of AI in revolutionising healthcare.
In November 2022, Cancer Care Africa was launched under her leadership at COP27, a platform to co-create cancer care solutions, improve patient pathways, and promote long-term investment in equitable cancer outcomes. In 2023, she further initiated the first-ever Women in Leadership summit in Riyadh, highlighting the role of women in driving impact and sustainability in the region.
Furthermore, Dr Incesu played a crucial role in the launch and expansion of the AZ Forest initiative in Ghana and Rwanda, a community-led project aiming to plant 200 million trees by 2030, exemplifying AstraZeneca's commitment to environmental sustainability.
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
- Summit highlights how women drive progress: Pelin drives gender equality and sustainability in the MENA region, spearheading the first Women in Leadership Summit to empower female leaders across sectors.
- ‘Last mile’ vaccination essential to ending the pandemic: Pelin leads AstraZeneca's efforts to achieve 'last mile' vaccination in Kenya, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration to reach underserved communities.
- To Overcome the Burden of Cancer in the Arab World, We Must Act Now and Act Together: Pelin champions AstraZeneca's Accelerating Change Together (ACT) for Cancer Care coalition, revolutionising cancer diagnosis and treatment in the Arab world through early detection, diagnostic tools, and precision medicine.
- “Accelerating Change Together (ACT) for Cancer Care" Signing with DOH Abu Dhabi: This partnership between the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi and AstraZeneca, co-signed by Pelin, is transforming cancer care through early detection and advanced diagnostics.
- Pelin Incesu: When it comes to the workplace, here’s how we can make #GirlsBelongHere: Pelin shares her journey in the science sector and AstraZeneca's commitment to gender equity, particularly in STEM fields.
- AZ Forest Ghana launch (Mar 2022) and expansion (June 2023): Under Pelin’s guidance, AstraZeneca's AZ Forest project in Ghana has successfully planted and overseen the growth of over 4.7 million trees spanning 8,000 hectares, contributing to local economic and ecological resilience. In line with their global pledge to plant 200 million trees by 2030, AstraZeneca has initiated a similar agroforestry project in Rwanda aiming to plant more than 5.8 million trees over 30 years.
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 165 words used.
Dr Pelin Incesu is the Area Vice President for AstraZeneca in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). With over 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr Incesu has held a series of progressively senior roles at AstraZeneca. After joining the company in 2000, she rose through the ranks to become Country President for AstraZeneca Turkey in 2014. Since 2020, she has overseen operations across 61 countries, managing a team of over 2,000 employees. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Incesu played a crucial role in distributing AstraZeneca's vaccine to 61 countries in the region.
Dr Incesu’s leadership extends beyond commercial success; she works tirelessly to build sustainable and resilient healthcare systems and to address the pressing issue of climate change. She strongly advocates for diversity and inclusion, evidenced by her role as the International Leader and Sponsor for Inclusion and Diversity at AstraZeneca. Under her stewardship, AstraZeneca has become a forerunner in these areas, with initiatives such as the AZ Women in Leadership Programme.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 232 words used.
Dr Incesu's accomplishments are distinctive due to their unique blend of business growth, innovation, environmental sustainability, and a profound commitment to patient care and people development. Her outstanding leadership stood out during the challenging times of the pandemic, as she expedited the distribution of AstraZeneca's vaccine across the MEA region. This rapid response, considering the global urgency and the region's healthcare hurdles, sets her performance apart in the industry.
Under her stewardship, AstraZeneca MEA achieved exceptional business expansion, exceeding previous benchmarks and outperforming many regional competitors. The substantial growth rate and the introduction of 53 new medicines in 2022 bear testament to this.
Dr Incesu’s initiation of the partnership with Qure.AI showcases her dedication to leveraging innovative technology to enhance patient outcomes, setting a new industry standard. Almost 30,000 scans were conducted across the MEA region within months under her leadership. The launch of Cancer Care Africa is a compelling attempt to address the often marginalised issue of health equity and patient care in the region.
Furthermore, her commitment to people, reflected in her celebration of cultural diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability through the AZ Forest initiative, is truly commendable. Few industry leaders harmoniously combine business growth, people development, and environmental commitments on such a scale. These achievements, compared to her past performance, demonstrate a sustained trajectory of growth, innovation, commitment to the environment, patient care, and personal development.
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