Thomas Halfmann
Eschbach GmbH
Head of Pharma Strategy & Growth
With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of pharmaceutical manufacturing, digital strategy, and executive leadership, He specializes in smart pharma factory transformation, integrated IT/OT architectures aligned with ISA-95, data-driven batch release, compliance by design, and end-to-end operational transparency. He views digitalization as a business model decision rather than an IT initiative.
Throughout his career, he has built and scaled the global MES rollout in his role as Global MES Program Manager at Novartis. As Global Head of Biopharmaceutical Operations IT he led complex transformation programs, and digitalized biopharmaceutical manufacturing organizations and processes in highly regulated environments where execution is critical.
He believes the next wave of performance in pharmaceutical manufacturing will come from fundamentally rethinking how production systems are structured, measured, and digitally enabled across the value chain. He works with leaders who aim to shape the future of pharma manufacturing rather than simply optimize the past.
Thomas is ISPE member since 1997 and chair of the Pharma 4.0 MES Sub-Committee since 2026.
Throughout his career, he has built and scaled the global MES rollout in his role as Global MES Program Manager at Novartis. As Global Head of Biopharmaceutical Operations IT he led complex transformation programs, and digitalized biopharmaceutical manufacturing organizations and processes in highly regulated environments where execution is critical.
He believes the next wave of performance in pharmaceutical manufacturing will come from fundamentally rethinking how production systems are structured, measured, and digitally enabled across the value chain. He works with leaders who aim to shape the future of pharma manufacturing rather than simply optimize the past.
Thomas is ISPE member since 1997 and chair of the Pharma 4.0 MES Sub-Committee since 2026.