Michael Stibilj Takes Helm at Emerald Clinical Trials

Stibilj joins the firm after a six-year tenure as Chief Operating Officer at Novotech. His background includes a three-year stint as CEO of PPC Group and over two decades in leadership roles at IQVIA. His expertise in navigating complex organizational shifts and driving revenue growth is expected to anchor the company's expansion strategy. This leadership transition follows a transformative period for the organization, marked notably by the acquisition of Hongyi Clinical Development Services. The integration has established a vast network of more than 1,000 professionals operating across 40 countries and 70 locations.

Chairman of the Board Sean Carney credited outgoing interim CEO Glenn Kerkhof with maintaining service excellence during the transition. Kerkhof will retain his seat on the Board to provide ongoing advisory support. Stibilj emphasized that the firm’s competitive advantage lies in its ability to marry global reach with deep regional expertise in the Asia-Pacific market. As the company manages an extensive portfolio—ranging from renal and oncology to early-phase clinical development—Stibilj aims to prioritize delivery speed and transparency to support a client base that includes 15 of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical firms.