Vice president legal, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk
Meltem Ozker Gunduz
Vice president legal, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
As a regional general counsel, I recognise that periods of instability or crisis are inevitable. During these times, I ensure that we have robust risk management in place and maintain a comprehensive overview of the changing legal and regulatory landscape. This approach requires thinking beyond the legal function and fostering an atmosphere of cross-functional collaboration. I believe that clear communication is particularly important in such situations, so I dedicate more time to maintaining a flexible and solution-oriented approach while actively listening to various stakeholders.
What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?
There is never a dull moment in the life of a regional general counsel, and although I have spent more than 14 years in the same company, I have had the opportunity to work on so many different matters. Recently, I have been working on regional IP strategy to safeguard the innovation and train our teams, new therapy areas and understanding legal risks and opportunities, as well as personal development for myself and my team.
What is a topic of business (or otherwise) that you are passionate about?
I am passionate about understanding and fostering commercial partnerships. I believe there are significant opportunities for collaboration with various stakeholders, which can lead to greater achievements. Many players possess expertise, knowledge, and innovative tools that can complement our existing capabilities and enhance our projects.
From a legal perspective, the legal team plays a crucial role in establishing these partnerships through tasks such as conducting due diligence, negotiating terms, and drafting contracts. Once the partnership is in place, we also ensure that it operates smoothly and effectively. I find this process exciting because our ultimate goal is to serve more patients. By identifying and implementing ways to better support them, we can truly fulfill our mission.
Vice president legal, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk
Vice president legal, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk
Vice president, legal, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk
Meltem Ozker Gunduz takes on a multi-faceted and international role as vice president of legal, compliance and quality for Novo Nordisk, where she oversees all Dubai-based lawyers and 43 more...
Legal affairs and compliance director | Novo Nordisk
Meltem Özker Gündüz is the legal affairs and compliance director, managing legal and compliance tasks for Novo Nordisk in the Near East Business Area covering Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan,...