Novo Holdings

Abhijeet Lele is Senior Partner and Head of US Principal Investments at Novo Holdings, which he joined in September 2020, with over 20 years of healthcare investment experience. He previously led US healthcare investing at Temasek and, before that, at Investor AB/Patricia Industries, and began his investing career at EGS Partners, a healthcare-focused hedge fund. Earlier in his career he was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company and held operating roles in the pharmaceutical industry. He holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from Cornell University.

Aleks Engel is a Partner in Novo Holdings' Planetary Health Investments team, based in Boston, having joined the firm in 2014 and previously worked on its Principal Investments and Seed Investments teams in Copenhagen. Before Novo Holdings, he held roles at Baxter International, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Thomson Scientific & Healthcare, and McKinsey & Company. He holds a PhD in Biochemical Engineering and an MSc in Chemical Engineering Practice from MIT.

Amer Sheikh joined Novo Holdings Seed Investments as a Partner in January 2026, where he leads the firm's Quantum Technologies investment strategy, covering quantum computing and sensing, advanced computing, and enabling software and infrastructure. He previously worked as an Investment Director at HSBC Ventures leading its Quantum and Deep Tech themes, and held senior investment roles at Sky Ventures and Centrica Ventures. He holds a PhD in Physics from Loughborough University and the Institut Laue Langevin and a BSc (Hons) in Physics.

Amit Kakar joined Novo Holdings Asia in August 2020 as Head of Asia, leading investments and partnerships across China, Japan, Singapore, and Southeast Asia. He has over 25 years of healthcare experience, previously holding roles at Everlife Asia (Head of M&A and Business Development), the Avenue Capital Group (Head of healthcare investments for Asia), and GE Healthcare. He holds a medical degree with a postgraduate qualification in Radiation and Nuclear Medicine from Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Centre in Mumbai, India.

Anders Bendsen Spohr joined Novo Holdings A/S in 2017 and serves as Managing Partner and Head of the Planetary Health Investments team. Before Novo Holdings, he held supply chain and operations leadership roles including VP of Global Product Supply at Xellia Pharmaceuticals, EVP of Global Product Supply at Leo Pharma, and VP of Global Supply Chain at Novozymes. He holds a PhD in Biotechnology and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark, along with a graduate diploma in Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School.

Andreas Nickelsen is a Partner in Novo Capital Investors at Novo Holdings, having joined in March 2022. He holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Copenhagen and became a CFA Charterholder in 2011. Before Novo Holdings, he worked at Realdania, Sampension, and Ørsted.

Anna Fan is a Senior Partner at Novo Holdings, where she leads the public investing strategy for the Venture Investments team and serves on the Life Sciences Operating Committee. Before joining the firm, she covered publicly traded biotech companies at Sectoral Asset Management and began her career in financial advisory serving fund managers and corporate clients in life sciences. She holds a Ph.D. and B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

Managing Partner in Principal Investments and a member of the Executive and Life Science Leadership Teams.

Hongjie Hu is a Partner in Growth Investments at Novo Holdings, where he focuses on investments at the intersection of healthcare, life sciences, and technology across North America, Europe, Israel, and Asia.

Managing Partner in Capital Investments and a member of the Executive and Capital Investments Leadership Teams.

Alan Liu is a Principal in the Planetary Health Investments department at Novo Holdings A/S, which he joined in 2020, where he works on deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management. Before Novo Holdings, he worked in J.P. Morgan's European Healthcare team in London and its North Asia M&A team in Hong Kong, handling private and public transactions across multiple industries. He holds a BSc in Quantitative Finance from CUHK, an MPhil in Biotechnology from Cambridge, and an MSc in Integrated Immunology from Oxford.

Anders Lykke Iversen joined Novo Holdings in November 2017 as an Associate in Principal Investments and works on deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management. Before Novo Holdings, he was a management consultant at Bain & Company in Copenhagen, focusing on due diligence and post-acquisition work for private equity clients and strategy, performance improvement, and M&A for Nordic corporates. He holds a BSc in International Business and an MSc in Finance & Strategic Management from Copenhagen Business School.

Angela Jong joined Novo Holdings in 2025 as a Principal on the Planetary Health Investments team. She was previously a Vice President at Advent International working on healthcare buyout investments, and earlier worked at Stellar Health, a healthcare technology startup, and at TA Associates on healthcare growth and buyout investments. She started her career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley.

Shawna Frazier, a San Francisco–based Director and West Coast lead focused on early-stage biotech, combines a Ph.D. scientific background and startup founder experience bridging big‑pharma strategy with Bay Area startups.

Alex Grooten works at Novo Holdings in the Finance & Operations department, serving as Senior Manager, Head of Accounting.

Álvaro Gallego Jurado joined Novo Holdings' People & Organisation department as a Rewards Manager in 2024, focusing on the governance of reward frameworks. He previously worked as a Performance & Rewards Partner Manager at Pandora A/S and gained earlier rewards experience at tech and security companies. A Spanish national, he holds an MChem in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh.

Amalie Stokkeland joined Novo Holdings A/S in February 2025 as a Senior Associate on the Planetary Health Investments team, where she works on deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management. She previously worked in investment banking at ABG Sundal Collier on M&A and ECM transactions. She holds an MSc in Finance and a BSc in Economics and Business Administration from Aarhus University BSS.

Amy Kacprowicz works at Novo Holdings US Inc. within the Strategy and People department. She joined Novo Ventures (US), Inc. as an Office Manager in Boston, then moved to the People & Organization team as an HR coordinator supporting HR operations in the Boston and San Francisco offices in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a graduate certificate in Human Resources from Northeastern University, following earlier roles in healthcare administration.

Andeta Jonuzaj joined Novo Holdings in 2021 as a compliance specialist, dividing her time between the Finance and Ventures teams. She previously spent 12 years in the banking sector, handling financial closing controls, compliance tasks including Know Your Client, and reporting of various statements. She holds a Master's degree in Financial Management.

Anne Dorte Stensberg Jensen joined Novo Holdings A/S as an Executive Assistant in the Principal Investments department in April 2024. She previously worked as a personal assistant at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and held PA and customer service roles at WS Audiology A/S. She holds a BA in German Business Communication from the University of Southern Denmark.

Barbara Fiorini is General Counsel at Novo Holdings A/S, which she joined in 2020, and has been part of the Executive Leadership Team since 2021, leading the legal department and handling the company's legal affairs across investments, divestments, and portfolio matters. She previously handled legal and compliance work for the Europe region at ISS World Services A/S and served as senior legal counsel at Genmab, including a period at Genmab US in New Jersey, and earlier worked as an M&A attorney at the law firm Plesner in Copenhagen. She holds a Master in Law from the University of Copenhagen and is a member of the Danish Bar Association.

Heather Ludvigsen is Senior Manager of Venture Investments at Novo Holdings A/S. She holds a CPA credential and has worked in corporate audit, internal audit, and financial reporting across external and internal functions. Her experience encompasses investment fund accounting, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and process controls review.

Helle Bach joined Novo Holdings in 2025 as Chief People Officer, sitting within the Strategy & People organisation and on the Executive Leadership Team, and oversees the People & Organisation function across offices in Denmark, the US, London and APAC. She previously led the global HR function at DSV A/S, where she built the Group HR function and took part in company M&A, and earlier led the people area at Egmont International Holding after starting her career as a management consultant at Rambøll Management. She holds a Master of Political Science from Aarhus University (2001).

Kasim Kutay has served as Chief Executive Officer of Novo Holdings A/S since September 2016 and sits on the Boards of Directors of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S. He was previously a Partner and member of the Global Management Committee at Moelis & Co. (2009–2016) and held various roles at Morgan Stanley from 1989 to 2007, including chair of the European Healthcare Group. He holds an MSc and BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Kasper Jahn joined Novo Holdings in 2014 with the Principal Investments team, which handles healthcare buyout investments. He moved to lead the Strategy Office in 2021 and joined the Executive Leadership Team in 2025, taking on responsibility for People & Organisation. Before Novo Holdings, he was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in Copenhagen serving pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and he holds an MSc and PhD in Nanoscience from Aarhus University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Nigel Govett has served as Chief Financial Officer of Novo Holdings A/S since March 2022, and sits on the Board of Directors of NNIT A/S as Chair of its Audit Committee. He previously held CFO roles at Oman Infrastructure Investment Management and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Oman, and director positions at EQT and Close Brothers. A UK national, he is a Fellow of the ACCA and holds a BA (Hons) in Historical Studies from the University of Sunderland.