Laurent is a seasoned digital health investor and strategic leader with over 25 years of pharma C-suite experience, including transformative roles as Chief Strategy Officer at Sanofi and Commercial VP at Abbott.
Throughout his career, Laurent has been a driving force in healthcare innovation, shaping the strategies of major corporations and delivering results across the US, Europe, and Asia. At Sanofi, he led pivotal initiatives, including the creation of the Gene Therapy Unit and orchestrating acquisitions that expanded the company’s footprint in oncology, immunology, and digital health, and raised Sanofi’s stock value to historic heights.
Investment experience
Over the last year, Laurent has been building KELES, a venture capital firm focused on European growth-stage digital health companies. During this “stealth” period, he has rigorously tested its unique investment thesis that merges technology, data, science, and medical expertise to address urgent healthcare challenges.
As global healthcare systems confront unprecedented pressures – from rising patient demands to the impending “grey tsunami” of aging populations – Laurent believes that digital health holds the key to scalable, efficient, and patient-centric solutions. KELES, under Laurent’s leadership, aims to accelerate digital health innovation across Europe, bringing healthcare solutions to market more quickly and effectively.
Laurent’s investment approach is comprehensive and deeply informed by his extensive experience in both the corporate pharma and investment worlds.. He understands the entire lifecycle of a healthcare solution, from conception and R&D to commercialization, scale, and exit. This 360-degree view combined with a strong network of industry connections, positions KELES to identify the best growth opportunities, support scale-up efforts, and maximize exit potential for its portfolio companies.
Laurent has “sat at every seat around the table,” from executive roles in pharma giants to hands-on investor and board advisor positions in digital health ventures, he knows the economics and how-to of execution. This extensive background enables him to bring both strategic foresight and operational know-how to KELES and its partners.
Through KELES, Laurent is creating a new paradigm for healthcare investment in Europe. His mission is to harness the power of digital health to create transformative, sustainable impact – accelerating R&D, driving healthcare accessibility, and ultimately improving lives on a global scale. KELES stands as a testament to Laurent’s commitment to innovation, his extensive industry expertise, and his strategic vision for the future of healthcare. He is committed to making KELES a partner of choice for entrepreneurs and innovators who share his vision for a healthier, more connected future.