Akan Oton（アカン・オトン）

Akan Oton is a member of Barings’ Private Equity / Real Assets Investment Committee and leads the team’s investment strategy in pharmaceuticals. Akan joined the firm in 2017 and has worked in the industry since 1998, bringing over 22 years of experience with a focus in the pharmaceuticals sector. At the firm, Akan has led the growth of the team’s investment capabilities in pharmaceutical royalties. Akan currently sits on the board of Validus Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining the firm, Akan worked at Sandoz (a division of Novartis), where he was an Executive Director with responsibility for product acquisition, licensing and leading M&A initiatives in generics and specialty brand segments. Prior to Sandoz, Akan worked at Catalent Pharma Solutions, where he was responsible for product partnering and technology licensing for the company’s venture group. He has also held marketing leadership roles at both Cardinal Health and Johnson & Johnson. Akan holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a Certified Licensing Professional.