Moderna is creating a new Chief Operating Officer role as the biotech prepares to scale its oncology business, expand manufacturing and manage a growing portfolio of vaccines.

 

Juan Andres will return to Moderna as chief operating officer on October 5, 2026, the company said. Andres, a former Moderna executive with extensive experience overseeing the company’s manufacturing operations, will report to CEO Stéphane Bancel and join the Executive Committee.

 

The move comes as Moderna prepares for the potential launch and commercial scale-up of intismeran autogene following positive Phase 3 results, while advancing a broader oncology pipeline. The company has also expanded its infectious-disease franchise, which now includes five approved vaccines.

 

That portfolio grew recently with US Food and Drug Administration approval of Moderna’s seasonal flu vaccine and European Commission authorization of its combined seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccine.

 

As COO, Andres will work across Moderna to sharpen focus, prioritization and execution while taking charge of the company’s manufacturing organization.

 

"I am very pleased to welcome Juan back to Moderna as our Chief Operating Officer," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "As we enter the next chapter of Moderna, Juan's experience leading complex global operations will be invaluable. He knows Moderna deeply and was an extraordinary partner to me as we built and scaled the Company. I look forward to working with him again as we execute on our strategy."

 

Andres spent nearly six years at Moderna after joining in 2017. He became Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer in 2018 and later served as President, Strategic Partnerships and Enterprise Expansion before retiring from the company in 2023.

 

During his previous tenure, Andres led the build-out and rapid expansion of Moderna’s manufacturing network, including the global scale-up needed to produce and supply the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.

 

"I am excited to return to Moderna at such an important moment for the Company," said Mr. Andres. "Moderna has always been a special place to me, and the opportunity ahead is tremendous. I look forward to working with Stéphane and colleagues across the Company to execute on our priorities and deliver more mRNA medicines to patients around the world."

 

Moderna also said Jerh Collins, its Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer, will retire from the company.

 

Collins joined Moderna in October 2022 and became chief of technical operations and quality in January 2023. During his tenure, he helped shift Moderna’s manufacturing footprint toward an endemic vaccine market, expanded manufacturing capabilities in the UK, Canada and Australia, and established the manufacturing model intended to support intismeran autogene.

 

Before joining Moderna, Collins spent nearly three decades at Novartis, holding increasingly senior roles across pharmaceutical production and manufacturing.

 

"I am also deeply grateful to Jerh for his leadership, partnership and commitment to Moderna over the past four years," said Bancel. "He has made significant contributions to our Company and built a very strong team that will carry forward the important work of manufacturing and technical operations. I wish Jerh and his family all the best in his retirement."

 

"It has been a privilege to be part of Moderna and to lead our Technical Operations and Quality organization," said Collins. "I am incredibly proud of what our teams have accomplished together for patients, and grateful to the many colleagues I have had the opportunity to work alongside. As I look ahead to retirement, I have great confidence in the team and in Moderna's future."

 

The leadership changes come as Moderna moves beyond its original COVID-19 vaccine-driven growth phase and seeks to broaden its business across oncology and infectious diseases.

 

Intismeran autogene, jointly developed by Moderna and Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, is a key part of that expansion following positive Phase 3 results.

 

Moderna describes itself as a pioneer in mRNA medicine, with programs spanning infectious diseases, cancer, rare diseases and other conditions. The company’s growing commercial portfolio and pipeline are increasing the operational demands on its manufacturing and technical organizations.

 

With Andres returning to oversee operations and Collins preparing to retire, Moderna is reshaping its leadership structure as it enters what the company describes as its next chapter.