BioNTech Appoints Ramón Zapata As Chief Financial Officer To Its Management Board

BioNTech SE has announced the appointment of Ramón Zapata-Gomez to its Management Board as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective July 1, 2025. Zapata-Gomez will join BioNTech from Novartis AG, where he has served as the CFO of Novartis’s global biomedical research organization since 2022. He will succeed Jens Holstein, who, as previously planned, will retire at the end of his term on June 30, 2025.

In his new role as CFO, Zapata-Gomez will be responsible for aligning BioNTech’s financial direction with its strategic goal of becoming a multi-product company, particularly in the oncology field. He will play a key role in preparing for the upcoming launches of BioNTech's oncology products, driving the company’s financial infrastructure and performance across key markets. His responsibilities will include optimizing financial reporting, accounting, tax and treasury functions, and ensuring cost-effective value generation. Zapata-Gomez will also focus on fostering organizational excellence and supporting global execution in financial operations.

Helmut Jeggle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, stated, “Ramón Zapata is an accomplished leader with deep finance expertise who will be taking over from Jens Holstein at an exciting phase. He has gained extensive experience within the international pharmaceutical industry with a focus on North America, Europe, and Latin America, and has a deep understanding of market and business dynamics, resource optimization, and high-performing teams. We, the Supervisory and the Management Board, thank Jens Holstein for his financial leadership and contributions to BioNTech’s successful trajectory. He strengthened BioNTech’s global finance organization and processes and contributed to the Company’s financial stability while increasing operational efficiency. Today, the Company is uniquely positioned to continue its success story and transformation into a multi-product company.”

Jens Holstein, CFO at BioNTech, also added, “It has been a privilege to be part of the development of BioNTech into one of the largest global biotechnology companies. I would like to thank my colleagues on the Boards as well as my teams for their dedication and collaboration during this remarkable growth journey. For me personally, it is the right time to retire as CFO and focus on non-executive Board roles in the future.”

Zapata-Gomez brings over 25 years of experience in finance within the pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries. He has held leadership roles at Novartis AG, Sandoz AG, and Mondelēz International, where he has led finance functions across various stages of drug development and commercialization. His expertise includes overseeing mergers and acquisitions, integrations, and driving digital finance transformations. Before his role at Novartis, Zapata-Gomez was responsible for finance strategy and operations at Novartis BioMedical Research.

Ramón Zapata, designated CFO at BioNTech, mentioned, “I am looking forward to joining BioNTech and am eager to contribute to its ambitious vision of improving patients’ lives. Throughout my career, I have been driven by the goal of developing and providing access to innovative medicines for patients. As BioNTech focuses on its first oncology launches, while advancing its unique clinical pipeline with disruptive and synergistic potential, I look forward to working with the talented team at BioNTech and accelerating financial strategies that support the Company’s vision.”

He holds dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. Zapata-Gomez also holds an MBA from both IPADE Business School in Mexico City and IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. This leadership appointment marks an important step for BioNTech as it continues to grow and advance its oncology portfolio.