Sam Machour: Redefining Global Health Leadership

An executive, investor, and philanthropist, Machour has spent his career at the intersection of science, strategy, and statecraft, empowering nations to stand on their own in the production of life-saving vaccines and biologics.

From Physics to Pharma Leadership

Born in Rabat, Morocco, and educated in Canada and the United States, Machour’s journey reflects a rare fusion of scientific intellect and executive precision. With a Master’s in Nuclear Physics and an executive education from Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School, and Harvard Medical School, he translated analytical discipline into industrial mastery. His early career spanned global giants, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Lonza, and Samsung Biologics, where he shaped global operations, regulatory frameworks, and quality systems that set benchmarks for excellence.

At Lonza, Machour contributed to the company’s most transformative acquisition, the $5.5-billion integration of Capsugel, strengthening Lonza’s position as a global biomanufacturing powerhouse. Later, as Executive Vice President and Chief Quality Officer at Samsung Biologics, he was a driving force behind the company’s ascent to becoming the world’s largest biologics CDMO, ensuring inspection readiness for the FDA, EMA, and PMDA while leading a culture of precision and integrity.

The Architect of a Nation’s Vaccine Sovereignty

When the world descended into chaos during the COVID-19 pandemic, Machour didn’t observe, he acted.

From Seoul, he mobilized his global network and stepped forward to support Morocco’s vaccine strategy, personally leading negotiations with manufacturers and international institutions to secure doses when supplies were scarce.

His leadership helped deliver over 40 million vaccine doses to Morocco, making the country one of the first in Africa to vaccinate its population rapidly and efficiently. But his vision went far beyond the emergency. Machour presented to His Majesty King Mohammed VI a bold plan for vaccine independence,  the idea that Morocco and Africa could produce their own vaccines, control their own supply chains, and define their own destiny in global health. That vision gave rise to Africa’s largest fill-and-finish vaccine plant, a milestone in the continent’s journey toward scientific and industrial self-reliance.

Building a New Healthcare Order

Today, as Chairman and CEO of Bio Investments Group (BIG), based in Switzerland, Machour is spearheading a movement to localize vaccine, biologics, and diagnostic manufacturing across the Middle East and Africa. BIG’s mission: to transfer technology, empower nations, and build the infrastructure of health independence.

In parallel, Machour serves as Executive Chairman of Altruist Biologics, one of Asia’s largest biologics platforms headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Under his leadership, Altruist forged landmark partnerships to serve millions of patients across the globe and established itself as a bridge between Eastern innovation and Western quality standards.

A Legacy Beyond Industry

Machour’s influence extends far beyond boardrooms. At Harvard, he founded Executives Without Borders, a non-profit dedicated to applying business expertise to humanitarian challenges. Working together with CAMO, its flagship project in Haiti, Ramase Lajan, created thousands of jobs while revolutionizing waste recycling and public health, hailed as a model for sustainable social enterprise by international development agencies.

As a philanthropist and mentor, he continues to invest in education and youth empowerment. His Sam Machour Scholarship Endowment at George Mason University Korea supports talented students from underrepresented backgrounds, reflecting his belief that education is the truest form of equity.

Global Recognition and Enduring Influence

Featured by Bloomberg, Reuters, and the South China Morning Post, and honored among the Top 50 Global Healthcare Leaders, Machour is regarded as a rare figure who bridges continents, sectors, and mindsets. His story embodies vision with execution, innovation with humanity, and ambition with purpose.