Dr. Shankar D Markad has been appointed as Associate Vice President at Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, based in Pune, Maharashtra. In this leadership role, Dr. Markad will oversee strategic initiatives in API and intermediate development, driving operational excellence while ensuring compliance with global regulatory standards. His appointment reflects Emcure’s focus on strengthening its manufacturing and R&D capabilities under experienced scientific leadership to support sustainable growth and innovation.
Dr. Markad brings over 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical chemistry, process development, and manufacturing, having held critical roles across top-tier organizations. Prior to joining Emcure, he served as Head Chemistry at Zentiva, where he managed a team of 80 employees in USFDA and EDQM-approved plants, successfully driving the development and manufacturing of APIs and intermediates. He was instrumental in building a strong product pipeline with high gross-margin products, achieving quality, HSE, and industrial KPIs to ensure business sustainability.
Before his tenure at Zentiva, Dr. Markad held several senior positions at Sanofi, including Head Process Development and Head Process Development & Pilot Plant. In these roles, he led cross-functional teams of chemists and engineers to design and scale-up manufacturing processes for APIs and NCEs, bridging gaps between R&D and production to ensure seamless technology transfer. His expertise also encompasses cost-effective process development, contract manufacturing, and lifecycle management of pharmaceutical products.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Markad contributed to PI Industries, AstraZeneca, and Aurigene Discovery Technologies, gaining hands-on experience in lab setup, patent analysis, and collaborative drug discovery programs. He also completed post-doctoral research at the University of Konstanz, Germany and the University of Connecticut, USA, where he specialized in solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis and carbohydrate chemistry. His strong scientific foundation, combined with operational leadership, positions him to drive Emcure’s strategic growth in the API and pharmaceutical manufacturing domain.