Shelly Koonce is Director of Human Resources at Ardena. She brings more than 25 years of experience across the defense and aerospace, academia, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries.

Throughout her career, Shelly has developed extensive expertise as a people and business partner, supporting talent development, organizational leadership, and cross-functional collaboration within complex business environments. Her leadership approach is grounded in collaboration and authenticity, with a strong focus on building partnerships and supporting employee growth and engagement across the organization. At Ardena, she works closely with leaders to foster an environment where individuals are empowered, recognized, and supported in reaching their full potential.

Shelly obtained her Master’s degree in Human Resources Development and Leadership.

Tom Suk is Head of AI at Ardena, where he leads the ArdenAI department and is responsible for AI strategy, governance, and implementation across the organization.

Tom joined Ardena in 2023 as Facility Manager before expanding his responsibilities into broader operational leadership roles. As Senior Manager Facility & Procurement, he oversaw the build-out of Ardena’s bioanalytical laboratories in Oss and Somerset, supporting the expansion of Ardena’s integrated service offering. He later served as EU Director Continuous Improvement, driving the harmonization of operational processes and procurement activities across Ardena’s European sites in line with the One Ardena vision. In 2026, he transitioned into his current role as Head of AI, focusing on the implementation of AI across scientific workflows, regulatory documentation, operational efficiency, and commercial activities within GxP-compliant environments.

Tom combines operational leadership experience with a strong focus on scalable and sustainable innovation across pharmaceutical development and manufacturing environments.

Ana Freire Salinas is Finance Director for the Drug Product sites across Pamplona, Ghent, and Somerset within the Ardena Group. She brings more than 15 years of experience in finance leadership roles within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

Throughout her career, Ana has led major financial transformation initiatives, including post-acquisition integrations, ERP implementations, and the development of group reporting and controlling frameworks. At Ardena, she leads cross-functional finance teams across multiple international sites, supporting financial operations and organizational alignment across the business. In parallel, she has also served as a lecturer at the University of Navarra for more than 15 years.

Ana obtained her Executive MBA from ESIC Business & Marketing School and earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Navarra.

Marion Andrist is Business Development Director at Ardena. She brings more than 10 years of experience across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and CDMO/CRO industries in Europe, combining a scientific background with expertise in marketing and strategic business development.

Throughout her career, Marion has supported biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the development and manufacturing of drug substances, drug products, and innovative therapeutic solutions. Her experience includes strategic partnerships, international account management, contract negotiations, and cross-functional project coordination from early development through industrial scale-up. Before joining Ardena, she held business development and commercial roles at SEQENS, NUVISAN Pharma Services, and Axyntis Group, where she developed expertise in APIs, CDMO services, pharmaceutical development, and international collaborations.

Marion combines scientific understanding with commercial and operational expertise, supporting strategic partnerships across complex pharmaceutical development and manufacturing programs.

Anita Knapper is Head of HR Netherlands at Ardena, where she is responsible for the HR function across multiple sites. She has built her career in human resources across both Hungary and the Netherlands, working within international and evolving business environments.

Anita joined Ardena in 2022 as HR Business Partner for the Assen site and later progressed into her current role. She works closely with management and employees on organizational development, people management, and change initiatives, combining hands-on HR operations with a practical and collaborative approach.

Her expertise includes employment law, organizational development, and supporting effective alignment between people and roles within dynamic organizational environments.

Thomas Scullion, PhD, is Vice President of Business Development, Bioanalytical Sciences at Ardena. He specializes in regulatory bioanalysis, translational biomarkers, and strategic CRO partnerships, supporting biotech and pharmaceutical clients across Europe, North America, and APAC.

With more than a decade of experience in the life sciences industry, Thomas has held senior commercial leadership roles at Synexa Life Sciences, Crown Bioscience, Charles River Laboratories, and Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services. His expertise includes GLP/GCLP bioanalysis, immunogenicity, translational biomarkers, biologics, and cell and gene therapy support. Throughout his career, he has combined scientific expertise with an entrepreneurial and client-focused commercial approach.

Thomas obtained his PhD in Neuropharmacology from Glasgow Caledonian University, where his research focused on inflammation, pain signalling, and ion channel biology.

Chrissa Schremp is Director of Business Development at Ardena. She supports biotech and pharmaceutical companies across the full development pathway, from preclinical strategy to clinical and commercial readiness.

Her experience spans drug development, analytical services, and CDMO partnerships. At Ardena, Chrissa works closely with clients to connect them with the company’s integrated service offering, including drug substance development and manufacturing, drug product formulation and manufacturing, nanomedicine solutions, bioanalysis, and CMC regulatory support. She is known for her collaborative approach and industry insight, helping support program continuity across complex therapeutic development programs.

Chrissa is based in the United States and brings broad experience supporting pharmaceutical innovators through integrated development and manufacturing strategies.

Vicky De Paepe is an HR Manager with experience across industrial and biotech environments. She brings extensive expertise in HR business partnering, organizational transformation, and people management within complex and evolving organizations.

Vicky started her career in an all-round HR role within the automotive sector in Antwerp before joining Ablynx as HR Officer. Over the years, she progressed into senior HR roles and ultimately became HR Manager. Following the acquisition of Ablynx by Sanofi in 2018, she transitioned into the role of HR Business Partner for the Ghent R&D site, supporting the organization through significant transformation initiatives, including multiple reorganizations and a collective dismissal process in 2024. After this transformation period, she joined Ardena for a new professional challenge.

Her experience combines operational HR expertise with a strong focus on organizational change, stakeholder support, and people-focused leadership within dynamic business environments.