Hari Babu elevated as Global COO at Mylan, Inc

Currently, he heads Mylan's Indian arm and OSD and API verticals; he has 25 years' experience in global generic pharma industry

Mylan Laboratories Limited managing director and chief executive officer B Hari Babu has been appointed as the global chief operating officer (COO) of the American generics pharmaceutical giant Mylan in his expanded role at the company's global operations.

Currently, he is heading Mylan's Indian subsidiary as well as the oral solid dose (OSD) and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) verticals. He has around 25 years of experience in global generic pharmaceutical industry.

In his new role, Hari Babu will oversee operations of Mylan's all global verticals including supply chain, sourcing, third-party finished dosage form (FDF) launch management and operational processes, environmental health and safety and regional operations.

After completing PhD in Organic Chemistry from Andhra University Hari Babu started his career at Veera Labs before joining the Matrix Laboratories in the year 2000. He continued to held various leadership positions at Mylan since January 2007, when the company had acquired a controlling stake in Matrix Laboratories, which was later renamed as Mylan Laboratories Limited.

Hari Babu served as the chief operating officer of Mylan Laboratories Limited since January 1, 2009 and also served as its executive vice president of API Technical Operations. He had also served as a senior vice president of API Tech Operations at Matrix Laboratories, responsible for API manufacturing and related manufacturing services. He hasbeen an executive director of Mylan Laboratories since October, 2007, which is considered to be one of the world's largest suppliers of APIs.

Hari Babu is second person to be elevated to global role at Mylan while heading Mylan's India operations. His predecessor Rajiv Malik was appointed as global president in 2011 and was later nominated to the Mylan board in 2013. Later he was appointed as the global CEO. With a strong generics pharmaceutical industry base, India has been able to produce people capable of taking  leadership positions in global pharmaceutical companies, say industry observers.

One of the largest generics and speciality pharmaceutical players in the world, Mylan had entered India on the back of acquisition of Matrix Laboratories founded by Nimmagadda Prasad. The deal transformed Mylan overnight into one of the world's largest manufactures of APIs and allowed it to vertically integrate the production of the company's finished dosage medicines, according to the company.

Today Mylan's manufacturing platform includes more than 52 facilities, 25 of which are located in India. The Indian facilities include 9 API and 15 FDF facilities, which manufacture medicines for both regulated and emerging markets.