Sami Meniri, MS Biotech 2012, appointed General Manager of Sanofi Vaccines Iberia

Sami Meniri, a graduate of GEM’s Mastère Spécialisé Management des Entreprises de Biotechnologie in 2012, has just been appointed General Manager of Sanofi Vaccines Iberia.

This promotion crowns more than fourteen years of commitment within Sanofi and reflects a career built at the intersection of scientific expertise, strategy, and international leadership.

A dual background in pharmacy and management

Holding a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Sami Meniri chose to complement his scientific training with GEM’s Advanced Master’s in Biotechnology Business Management. This combination enabled him to develop, early in his career, a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the healthcare industry.

A career path at Sanofi

A few months after graduating, Sami Meniri joined Sanofi as Assistant Dengue Product Manager. He quickly progressed to positions with an international scope.

In Mexico, where he served for nearly two years as Executive Assistant to the General Manager, he contributed to the implementation of a new governance model, the definition of the affiliate’s strategy, and the coordination of communication and marketing projects related to dengue.

Upon returning to Europe and later moving to the United States, he broadened his experience through a variety of roles spanning strategy, public affairs, business development, and marketing. He successively held positions as Business Planner, Market Strategy & Development, Global Public Affairs Project Manager, Managed Care Marketing Manager in the United States, and Key Account Manager in Chicago.

From 2019 onwards, his career became increasingly focused on vaccines, one of Sanofi’s strategic pillars. He was appointed Global Brand Manager, Pediatric Vaccines, before taking responsibility for the France Influenza Franchise in 2022 and the France Adult Vaccines Franchise in 2023.

In September 2024, he was appointed Head of Specialty Care Portugal.

Leading vaccines in Spain and Portugal

Since June 2026, Sami Meniri has served as General Manager of Sanofi Vaccines Iberia, based in Barcelona.

His appointment comes at a particularly dynamic time for the group’s vaccine activities in the region. In his first public statements, he highlighted the importance of vaccine innovation for public health and the need to promote a lifelong vaccination approach.

“It is a privilege to assume the general management of Vaccines in Iberia, a region that has demonstrated that vaccine innovation saves lives,” he stated, referring in particular to Spain’s achievements in RSV immunization among infants and the growing importance of prevention in the context of an aging population.

For him, vaccination should no longer be viewed solely as a pediatric issue but as a major public health lever throughout every stage of life. This vision is fully aligned with Sanofi’s ambition as a historic leader in vaccines for more than a century.

About Sanofi

Sanofi is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops innovative medicines and vaccines to improve the health and quality of life of patients worldwide. Present in more than 100 countries, it is a leading player in healthcare and innovation.