Ardena Adds Ben Ash as CFO, Henny Zijlstra as CCO

Ardena is appointing Ben Ash as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Henny Zijlstra as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). The company is a specialist pharmaceutical CDMO and bioanalytical contract research organization (CRO) for precision medicines and other complex therapies.

Ardena Evolving

According to Ardena, the executive team additions come as the company is trying to globally scale operations and commercial reach.

“Over the past 15 months, Ardena has undergone a significant transformation,” said Ardena CEO Jeremie Trochu. This includes United States expansion, divestment of operations in Sweden, and investing in bioanalytical services, nanomedicines, and digital capacity.

“As we move into the next phase, Ben and Henny bring the drive, focus, and leadership needed,” Trochu said. “Their experience will be critical as we continue to build a more focused, innovative, and international Ardena.”

Duties, Backgrounds of New CFO, CCO

Ash will lead Ardena’s financial strategy, supporting a scalable level of growth that includes disciplined international expansion. Additionally, he will work with the company’s Chief Information Officer on advancing Ardena’s roadmap to digitization.

Most recently, Ash was CFO at Essential Pharma. He previously held senior finance roles at PTC Therapeutics and Shire.

Zijlstra is set to guide Ardena’s commercial organization across business development and marketing. She is being tasked with elevating the company’s brand presence and accelerating its go-to-market strategy. Ardena says these improvements will broaden its customer engagement and bring further visibility to the company’s drug development capabilities.

Previously, Zijlstra occupied senior leadership roles at Adragos and Lonza.

“Ardena has a very strong operational foundation and a uniquely differentiated scientific offering,” Ash said. “I am very excited to join the company, and I look forward to supporting its next phase of international growth.”

“I am energized by the opportunity to work with Ardena’s talented subject matter experts,” Zijlstra said. She added she hopes to “bring the company’s capabilities to the market with clarity and impact, while building deep relationships.”