EMA Appoints Melanie Carr as Deputy Executive Director and Franck Fourès to Lead Veterinary Medicines Division, Strengthening Oversight of Veterinary Medicines Regulation (EU 2019/6)
EMA Announces Key Leadership Changes, Ensuring Regulatory Continuity
In a significant leadership transition, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced changes following the upcoming retirement of Ivo Claassen, Deputy Executive Director and long-time head of veterinary medicines, on July 31, 2026. This move aims to proactively address the evolving regulatory landscape of the global pharmaceutical and animal health sectors and enhance internal operations. With increasing demands for coordinated international approvals, the appointment of new leaders ensures a smooth transition and maintains policy consistency, mitigating potential administrative gaps caused by the departure of a senior regulatory expert.
New Deputy Executive Director to Combine Digital Security and Stakeholder Engagement
Effective August 1, 2026, Melanie Carr will assume the role of Deputy Executive Director. She has demonstrated her capabilities by leading the Stakeholders and Communication Division. She will also oversee information technology (IT) security, particularly during the absence of the Executive Director. This strategic focus on IT security reflects the growing threat of sophisticated cyberattacks targeting regulatory agencies, aiming to protect sensitive clinical trial data and enhance the security and stability of digital regulatory platforms.
Former ANMV Director to Stabilize Veterinary Medicines Regulation
Franck Fourès, the new head of the Veterinary Medicines Division, brings extensive experience as the former Director of the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV). Starting his term on September 1, 2026, he has served as an alternate member of the EMA Management Board for the past four years, demonstrating a deep understanding of European regulations. By bringing a former head of a national regulatory agency into the central European regulatory body, the EMA aims to foster closer policy coordination among member states and ensure a smooth implementation of the Veterinary Medicines Regulation (EU) 2019/6.
Supporting the Growing Animal Health Market with Enhanced Regulatory Confidence
In 2024, the European veterinary medicines market was valued at approximately USD 10.48 billion to USD 13.18 billion, representing 26% to 28% of the global market. With increasing consumer interest in pet health and stricter standards for livestock safety, the market continues to grow. The appointment of new leadership is expected to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers and increase predictability, encouraging animal health companies to increase their R&D investments and prepare more systematically for clinical trials and new drug approvals.
This leadership change at the EMA will serve as a medium- to long-term catalyst for enhancing the transparency of the European veterinary medicines market, which reached USD 13.18 billion in 2024. In particular, with the appointment of Franck Fourès, former Director of the French ANMV, the approval process for new animal vaccines and biologics under the Veterinary Medicines Regulation (EU) 2019/6 is expected to be expedited. Furthermore, with the new Deputy Executive Director, Melanie Carr, taking charge of IT security oversight, the risk of data breaches and leaks of proprietary drug pipelines and clinical data from multinational pharmaceutical companies will be reduced, alleviating security concerns among clinical researchers and global investors in the short term. Ultimately, these appointments will provide a transparent and consistent regulatory environment for leading veterinary medicine companies such as Zoetis (ZTS) and Elanco (ELAN), as well as for venture companies developing new animal therapies, contributing to reducing uncertainty in bio-sector investment evaluations.
Source: EMA (ema)
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/new-leadership-team-appointments