Drogsan Pharmaceuticals, a well-established player in Türkiye’s pharmaceutical industry, has announced a major leadership transition. Dr. Sabri Öncel, previously serving as Deputy General Manager responsible for Türkiye and International Markets, has been appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 9, 2026.
After serving as CEO for approximately 18 years, Dr. Ersan Küçük has officially handed over the role. Küçük will continue to support the company by providing strategic advisory services and contributing to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors as a coordinator.
Management Statement
Drogsan Pharmaceuticals Chairman Mustafa Karpuzcu highlighted Dr. Küçük’s pivotal role in the company’s development and institutional growth.
Karpuzcu noted that Küçük led the company with strong leadership, dedication and a visionary management approach, making lasting contributions to Drogsan’s expansion and corporate transformation. He also expressed confidence that Dr. Sabri Öncel’s leadership, vision and industry experience will further accelerate the company’s stable growth trajectory.
Strategic Priorities in the New Era
As the new CEO, Dr. Sabri Öncel will focus on advancing the company’s growth strategies, strengthening its presence in international markets, and accelerating the development of innovative healthcare solutions.
Leveraging his experience managing domestic and global market operations, Öncel is expected to play a key role in reinforcing Drogsan’s position in the global pharmaceutical landscape.
About Dr. Sabri Öncel
Born in Eskişehir in 1964, Dr. Sabri Öncel graduated from Istanbul University’s Istanbul (Çapa) Faculty of Medicine. After practicing medicine, he served in the central organization of the Turkish Ministry of Health, where he managed the Health Information Systems Department within a World Bank-funded Health Project, contributing significantly to the establishment of Türkiye’s health informatics infrastructure.
Öncel later completed a Master’s degree in Public Health at Hacettepe University and earned an MBA from Keele University in the United Kingdom.
Entering the pharmaceutical industry in 1999, Öncel held leadership roles in medical affairs, marketing, sales and logistics management. Between 2008 and 2019, he served as CEO of Er-Kim Pharmaceuticals. During the pandemic, he also provided consultancy to international companies on Türkiye’s pharmaceutical market, pricing and regulatory approval processes.
In 2022, he joined Drogsan Pharmaceuticals as Deputy General Manager responsible for Türkiye and International Markets. As of March 2026, he has assumed the role of CEO of the company.
