Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Accomplishments
Timeline
SKILLS, LANGUAGES
CAREER GOALS
Generic
Matija Kovac

Matija Kovac

Managing Director / Country Manager (44)
Vienna

Summary

Pharmaceutical Executive with extensive experience in business strategy, P&L management, and leadership across both global and local functions. Demonstrated success in driving marketing and business development initiatives, delivering sustainable growth, and optimizing cost efficiency. Recognized for strong analytical and strategic thinking, combined with an inspiring leadership style that builds high-performing teams and achieves ambitious targets. Deep expertise in the full life cycle of contract manufacturing, with a proven ability to align operational excellence with long-term business goals.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
5
5
Certificates
3
3
Languages

Work History

Managing Director / Country Manager Austria

Bluefish Pharma GmbH
11.2017 - Current
  • Full operational and financial responsibility for the Austrian affiliate, team management responsibility
  • Monitor financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
  • Develop and execute strategic plans for business growth and expansion, resulting in increased market share
  • Top line & bottom line growth / profitability of business in Austria
  • Providing effective leadership, vision and strategic direction
  • Pricing and Market Access
  • Business Development
  • Networking with stakeholders
  • Harmonization of operating procedures with local legislation and business practice
  • Cost optimization
  • Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty

Mangaing Director / Country Manager Germany

Bluefish Pharma GmbH
07.2024 - Current
  • Full operational and financial responsibility for the German affiliate, team management responsibility
  • Develop new commercial strategy and optimize Tender business
  • Costs and margin optimization
  • Monitor financial performance, set budgets and controll expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth
  • Develop and execute strategic plans for business growth and expansion, resulting in increased market share

Board Member and Treasurer

Austrian Generic Association
01.2023 - Current

Managing Director / Country Manager

Krka Pharma GmbH
09.2010 - 11.2017
  • Business strategy
  • Full P&L responsibility
  • KAM Management (wholesale cooperation)
  • Coordination of several operational fields (finance, regulatory, logistics, reimbursement, HR)
  • Profound involvement in Marketing (Field force Management, Marketing campaigns, CRM)
  • Product launch
  • Networking with stakeholders (regional sick funds, pharmaceutical association, generic association)
  • Cost optimization

Deputy General Manager

KRKA PHARMA GMBH
10.2009 - 08.2010

Support to the local management

  • Business Development, Market Research
  • Rebranding Alternova – KRKA, integration of affiliate into corportation
  • Logistics

Sales Manager, region West Europe

KRKA D.D., Tovarna zdravil, Novo mesto
04.2007 - 10.2009
  • Duties and responsibilities:
  • Contractual Manufacturing
  • Management of products life cycle for patent-off products
  • Business Development, Market Research
  • Conducting Distribution and License Agreements
  • Production planning
  • Customer support (worlds biggest generic companies as business partners)

Counsellor

MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
06.2005 - 12.2006
  • Financial and contractual control of operations of two agencies

(Agency for commodity reserves and Agency for compulsory stocks of crude oil and petroleum products)

Trainee

AGENCY FOR PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
06.2004 - 11.2005
  • Duties and responsibilities:
  • Weekly journal for entrepreneurs, covering the field of intellectual property
  • User support
  • Development of new web-portal for entrepreneurs

Education

BBA - International Trade

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
Maribor, Slovenia
04.2001 -

BBA - International Trade

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GENT
Gent, Belgium
04.2001 -

High School Diploma -

HIGH SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
Celje, Slovenia
04.2001 -

Skills

Microsoft Navision Dynamics

Certification

International Leadership School

Accomplishments

  • Krka Pharma: grew sales from 1,4mio EUR to 9mio EUR, team development from 6 to 28 employees, multiple product launches
  • Bluefish Pharma: grew austrian sales from 1,8mio EUR to 5mio EUR, product launches and rationalization, margin optimization
  • Sustainable and continuous growth
  • Fast penetration and high market shares for new products, proved track record of launches
  • Business turnarounds, Rebranding, Cost optimization

Timeline

Mangaing Director / Country Manager Germany

Bluefish Pharma GmbH
07.2024 - Current

Board Member and Treasurer

Austrian Generic Association
01.2023 - Current

Managing Director / Country Manager Austria

Bluefish Pharma GmbH
11.2017 - Current

Managing Director / Country Manager

Krka Pharma GmbH
09.2010 - 11.2017

Deputy General Manager

KRKA PHARMA GMBH
10.2009 - 08.2010

Sales Manager, region West Europe

KRKA D.D., Tovarna zdravil, Novo mesto
04.2007 - 10.2009

Counsellor

MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
06.2005 - 12.2006

Trainee

AGENCY FOR PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
06.2004 - 11.2005

BBA - International Trade

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
04.2001 -

BBA - International Trade

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GENT
04.2001 -

High School Diploma -

HIGH SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
04.2001 -

SKILLS, LANGUAGES

Fluent: English, German, Croatian
Native: Slovenian
Passive: Spanish

CAREER GOALS

Pharmaceutical sector, Life Sciences & Innovation / International career / Position in upper management

Matija KovacManaging Director / Country Manager (44)