Title: Head of Strategy and Operations, Chief of Staff for Latin America, and Regional Fertility Lead
Company: Merck KgaA d/b/a EMD Serono
Location: Miami, Florida, United States
Romina Zelezniak, Head of Strategy and Operations, Chief of Staff for Latin America and Regional Fertility Lead at Merck KGaA, d/b/a EMD Serono, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Ms. Zelezniak has built a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical sector with expertise in marketing. Her journey began after earning his undergraduate degree. While working in finance for a decade during her studies, she developed a strong foundation in business principles that would later support her transition to the healthcare industry. Seeking broader horizons, Ms. Zelezniak moved from her home country of Argentina to the United States to pursue additional studies, which proved instrumental as she entered the pharmaceutical field.
After two decades of upward progression, Ms. Zelezniak was acquired by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, d/b/a EMD Serono, a leading global science and technology company headquartered in Germany, in 2021. Based in Miami, Florida, and serving as the head of strategy and operations, chief of staff for Latin America and regional fertility lead, she defines and executes the company’s fertility growth strategy across Latin America, including Brazil and Mexico, while collaborating closely with operations and country teams to ensure alignment with global objectives.
Pivoting from the German pharmaceutical manufacturing company Merck Group, Ms. Zelezniak served as a business unit head for neurology and immunology as well as fertility and endocrinology in Argentina, beginning in 2019. She was promoted to regional fertility franchise lead for Latin America and business unit head for fertility and endocrinology from 2020 to 2021. Earlier, Ms. Zelezniak worked for Gador in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a regional manager for specialty products between 2017 and 2019. There, she headed key therapeutic lines for HIV and hepatitis C at one of Argentina’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
Ms. Zelezniak’s entry into the industry was serendipitous. During her graduate studies, she applied for an internship at Johnson & Johnson on the advice of a friend. Despite limited knowledge of pharmaceuticals at the time, her willingness to learn and persevere helped her secure the position after a rigorous interview process. Ms. Zelezniak completed nine months of training on HIV products in New Jersey before returning to Argentina to launch Johnson & Johnson’s first HIV product there.
Rapidly advancing within Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries, Ms. Zelezniak began as a sales trainee at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, now Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, in 2005. By 2006, she was an associate product manager in marketing at Tibotec Therapeutics (Johnson & Johnson) in the United States. From 2006 to 2008, Ms. Zelezniak served as a product manager for HIV at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in Buenos Aires. She then became the senior product manager for HIV and antibiotics until 2009.
Continuing her ascent, Ms. Zelezniak held the role of Latin American strategic marketing manager for immunology and IM from 2009 to 2010 and then for oncology and hematology between 2010 and 2011 at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. She subsequently managed immunology biologics across Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay as a franchise manager from 2011 to 2012, followed by her role as a franchise manager for virology, including HIV, hepatitis C and vaccines, for the Southern Cone region, between 2013 and 2016.
Before her tenure with Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Zelezniak garnered experience as a marketing manager at Dipelle. She also worked as a marketing team leader at Cooperativa Concred, dating back to 2000.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ms. Zelezniak acquired a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Universidad de Palermo in 2002. She soon after acquired a Master of Business Administration in international business from Florida International University in 2004.
Ms. Zelezniak’s civic engagement includes supporting the Tzedaka Foundation as a donor, reflecting her dedication to giving back to the community. The Argentinian foundation’s mission is to protect the neediest members of the community by supporting, promoting and developing social and educational initiatives.
Throughout her career, Ms. Zelezniak has earned recognition, including multiple company awards and being featured in Forbes Women in Corporate Roles. Her leadership style is characterized by honesty and transparency. Ms. Zelezniak values collaboration over micromanagement and believes that trust is foundational to effective teamwork.
Among Ms. Zelezniak’s proudest achievements have been developing a fertility sales strategy that fostered double-digit growth across Brazil and Mexico over two consecutive years at Merck KGaA. By actively listening to sales representatives’ ideas and transforming them into actionable plans alongside business unit heads and general managers, she cultivated a sense of belief within her team that translated into measurable success. Among other major milestones, Ms. Zelezniak has launched innovative therapies across multiple disease areas, contributing to sustained profitable growth in key markets.
Ms. Zelezniak’s commitment to professional growth extends beyond her own advancement. She is passionate about encouraging women, particularly those in Latin America and the Middle East, to pursue both motherhood and ambitious careers without self-imposed limitations. Ms. Zelezniak’s advocacy is rooted in personal experience. She credits perseverance as central to her success.
Looking ahead, Ms. Zelezniak aspires to serve as a general manager overseeing operations in Argentina. Her journey stands as a testament to perseverance, adaptability and strategic vision within the global pharmaceutical industry, qualities that continue to drive her impact across Latin America and beyond.
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