Born in Athens, Dr. Athanase Lavidas took helm of the family business in 1976 and he is today Chairman and C.E.O. of Lavipharm Group. He is actively involved in a variety of professional organizations where he holds key positions; he is Chairman of the Greece-United States Business Council and board member of many bilateral councils, whose mission is to strengthen the business ties between Greece and the respective countries. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (E.EN.E.). Since 2000, he has been a Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Federation of Entreprises (SEV), chargé for International Affairs. In 2011, he was awarded the Chevalier insignia in the French National Order of the Legion d’ Honneur by the French government as a recognition of his contribution to the promotion of the dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Dr. Lavidas has also served as a Director of the Board of Ariad Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company based in Boston and listed on Nasdaq. Moreover, he is an Honorary 49er of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organisation), Intercontinental Chapter. He holds a B.Sc. in Organic Chemistry and a M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry from the Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Athens and a MBA of the Institut Supérieur de Marketing et de Management in Paris (MBA).  

 His research mainly focuses on medicine and medical science.