Shawn Leland Takes Helm as Affimed's Chief Executive Officer

airdrop_whisperer · 2025-12-31T13:50:31+00:00

Affimed N.V. has appointed Shawn Leland as CEO, marking a strategic leadership transition. Leland brings over 15 years of pharmaceutical experience and has a strong entrepreneurial background, previously leading Elevation Oncology. Andreas Harstrick will become Chief Medical Officer.

airdrop_whisperer

2025-12-31 13:50:31

Abstract generation in progress

Immuno-oncology-focused Affimed N.V. (AFMD) has revealed a significant leadership transition, with Shawn Leland now stepping into the role of Chief Executive Officer. This appointment marks a strategic move for the company as it charts its next phase of development.

Leland brings substantial industry credentials to the position, boasting over 15 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent pattern of scaling companies through critical growth phases. Prior to joining Affimed, Leland served as Interim CEO and Board Director at ForeBio, where he provided interim leadership and strategic direction.

The incoming CEO’s entrepreneurial background is particularly noteworthy. In 2019, Leland founded Elevation Oncology, initially taking the Chief Business Officer seat before advancing to the Chief Executive role through January 2023. Before establishing his own venture, Leland honed his business development expertise at Verastem Oncology (2017-2019) and spent four years as Head of Business Development at Argos Therapeutics (2013-2017).

His early career foundation was built at established pharma powerhouses including ARIAD Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, where he gained hands-on experience navigating the complexities of drug development and market strategy.

Meanwhile, Andreas Harstrick, who has been steering Affimed as acting CEO since January 2024, will transition to his role as Chief Medical Officer. This structural change allows the company to benefit from both Leland’s business acumen and Harstrick’s medical expertise as they work in complementary capacities.

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