Zaha Marisa Kheir Parmasche

I’ve always been someone who lives between worlds. My childhood was split between the city rhythm of Frankfurt and the slower, coastal life of the Canary Islands, and I think that’s where my fascination with how we communicate—and how much we miss—began.

My career has taken me through the USA, Ireland, Austria, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, and I’ve carried a deep passion for the Middle East with me everywhere I go. I’m fluent in Arabic, though admittedly a bit rusty these days from lack of use, and I am currently in a very humble, losing battle with learning Hebrew. When I’m not at my desk, I’m usually visiting family in Basel—a city that feels like home in the heart of the pharma world—or back in the mountains of La Palma with my husband and our four dogs.

Living on a "paradise" island (the one famous for the 2021 volcano and the Netflix series "La Palma") is a bit of a cliché, but the truth is I spend far more time at my computer or in the gym than I do at the beach. I’m a big fan of Olympic lifting and hiking; there is something about the focus of a heavy lift or a long trail that keeps me grounded.

People often ask why an Oxford-trained political scientist works in pharma. For me, it’s about the puzzle. Whether it’s understanding how a new medical technology is being perceived in Germany or ensuring a campaign doesn't fall flat in Spain, I just love getting the details right. Ultimately, it's that relentless curiosity about the world around me that drives my work.