Our extraordinary team

Salvador Garcia

Executive Director & Investor

Salvador is an economist from the University Pompeu Fabra with an MBA degree from the Stern School of Business at New York University. He is an experienced senior executive with a demonstrated history of working in the media (Diari Ara), consulting (McKinsey), lite science (Aurora Medicine) and financial services (Goldman Sachs) industries. He is focused on strategy, partnerships, and fundraising.

Claudia Navarro

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Claudia N. holds a BSc in Biotechnology, a MSc in Biomedical Research, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She has more than five years' experience managing research projects related to skin products with translational potential, with special focus in safety and efficacy studies, to bring cosmetics and dermo-pharmaceuticals to market. She is focused on the coordination and management of the scientific area of the company.

Ángel M. Valdivielso

R&D/Innovation Manager

Ángel (PhD in Organic Chemistry) has extensive professional experience in R+D departments (more than 15 years) in several fields such as medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, material chemistry (including energy storage applications), flow chemistry and unconventional synthetic methods. He is leading the discovery, optimisation and manufacturing of new active ingredients for sun protection.

Joan Atcher

Industrialization Manager

Joan holds a BSc in Chemistry, a MSc in Organic Chemistry and PhD in Systems Chemistry. He has conducted several research projects mainly in the field of Supramolecular Chemistry (CNRS in France and LMU in Germany) involving organic synthesis and conformational investigations. He was also QC innovation leader (GP Pharm) and now he is focused on process development. His position is funded by the Tecniospring INDUSTRY fellowship, as part of ACCIÓ's international talent program co-financed by the H2020 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions of the European Union.

José J. Villaplana

Researcher, Analytical Chemistry

Jose Joaquín is a chemist from the University of Alicante and holds a MSc in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Barcelona. He has experience in chromatography and spectroscopic techniques as well as nanoencapsulation of active components, he is a researcher at the University of Barcelona focused on the chemical analysis of Roka's products.

Cristina Moya

Researcher, Organic Chemistry

Cristina holds a BSc in Chemistry and MSc in Organic Chemistry from the University of Barcelona. She has experience in synthesis of small molecules, peptides, oligo-nucleotides and bioconjugates. Currently, she is working as a researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona with the aim to synthesize novel UV filters for Roka.

María Pin Nó

Bio-Based Product Synthesis Specialist

María holds a BSc in Chemistry, an MSc in Supramolecular Chemistry and PhD in Organic Chemistry. She has three years’ experience in the development of pine-based material for the commercialisation of sustainable monomers and the knowledge transfer between academia and industry. Currently, she is working at Roka on the synthesis of sunscreen ingredients through green methods. Her position is funded by the Tecniospring INDUSTRY fellowship, as part of ACCIÓ's international talent program co-financed by the H2020 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions of the European Union.

Irene Delgado

Cosmetic Applications Manager

Irene graduated in Pharmacy from the Universitat de Barcelona. Her interest in galenic development started during an internship in hospital pharmacy, where she had to prepare formulas for patients. This experience, along with her concern for skin pathologies, made her focus her career on skin health, and she completed a Master’s degree in Cosmetics and Dermopharmacy at CESIF. After completing her studies, she worked for several years in the R&D department developing cosmetic formulations, mainly for sunscreen products. She is passionate about galenic development and sun protection.

Arturo Tortosa

Process Development Researcher

Arturo graduated in Chemistry from the university of Alicante and he holds a MSc in Organic Chemistry. He has four years’ experience in the pharmacological industry, where he worked on an extensive variety of organic synthetic reactions and the subsequent characterisation of organic molecules. Currently, Arturo is working as a researcher on the optimization of the synthesis of Roka’s products.

Sònia Espinosa

Controller

Sònia has a Business degree and over 20 years’ experience in financial management. She is also a specialist in comprehensive management software tools, like SAP. Before joining Roka, she worked at Danone for ten years, first in Customer Service and later as Accounts Payable Manager for the entire Danone Group in Spain. Then she spent nine years at Wanzl Group as the company’s invoicing and administration manager. 

Jordi Salabert

Nanomaterials Researcher

Jordi holds a BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Chemical and Nanochemical Technologies. His passion for science and R&D encourage him to pursue his phD in Organic Chemistry (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), designing and developing new superhydrophobic organic dyes. Before joining Roka, Jordi was involved in several projects and partners doing research about organic synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, photochemistry and polymer science. At Roka, he is working on nanomaterials products synthesis and application.

Aina Ximelis

Researcher in Cosmetic Applications

Aina holds a BSc in Biotechnology and a MSc in Cosmetics and Dermopharmacy. After completing her studies, she did an internship in the R&D department of an international company developing cosmetic formulations. Currently, she is working as a researcher looking for the different cosmetic applications and photochemical characterization of Roka’s products

Laia Garcia

Quality & Analysis Development Manager

Laia holds a BSc in Chemistry, a master's degree in Industrial Chemistry & Introduction to Chemical Research and an Industrial PhD in Analytical Chemistry. Prior to joining Roka, Laia worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 6 years. She holds a background in analytical development and validation, stability and quality control. At Roka, she is working on the coordination and management of the quality and analysis development areas.

Eduardo Yanovsky

Business Development Director

Edu holds a BSc in Medicine, from Universitat de Barcelona, an MBA from Esade and a PDD from IESE Business School and has more than 20 years’ experience in Business Development & International Sales & Marketing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, skin care cosmetics and consumer health products.

His career includes more than 10 years at Dermofarm a pharmaceutical company specialized in Cosmetics for Skin Care, with the successful launch of its products in more than 20 countries in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia, and also more than 10 years in Ferrer Internacional in different positions in Business Development and International Sales.

Judit Bigas

Scientific Project Manager

Judit holds a BSc in Biotechnology, a MSc in Molecular Biotechnology and a PhD in Biotechnology. She has five years’ experience studying the cutaneous pathophysiology. Additionally, she is a multidisciplinary scientist whose knowledge encompasses basic and translational research, animal experimentation, pathological anatomy, histology and molecular biology. Before joining Roka, Judit also worked coordinating multiple clinical trials. At Roka she is working as a regulatory affairs specialist and skin researcher, supporting the coordination of external efficacy studies and performing in-house safety and efficacy studies with in vitro skin models.

Guillem Garcia

Technician in Organic and Interfacial Chemistry

Guillem holds a vocational qualification in industrial chemistry and a BSc in chemistry. He has over 4 years’ experience in the chemical industry, working in multinational companies in a wide range of positions, including R+D, production and quality assurance. He has previous experience in research working on the synthesis and characterization of novel chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis.

At Roka he is working on nanomaterial products synthesis and the application and synthesis of novel UV filters

Elisenda Codina

Business Development Manager

Elisenda holds a Degree in Law from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, a Master in International Business from ESCI-UPF and an Executive Master in Digital Business from ESADE.

 She has more than thirteen years' experience in international business development, including projects for medical device, pharma and cosmetic products.

 Her career includes more than 6 years in Australia working as a Project Manager for the Catalonia Trade and Investment office and as Sales and Marketing Manager for a Catalan company. In recent years, Elisenda has been working as a Project Manager for the Andorra Business promotion agency in Spain and United Arab Emirates.

Gonzalo Rotea

Scientific Researcher on Bio-based products

Gonzalo holds a BSc in Chemistry from the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela and a MSc in Organic Chemistry from the universities of USC/UAM/UCM . He has more than three years’ experience in the pharmacological industry, where he worked on the synthesis, isolation and characterization of chemical active pharmaceutical ingredients. He is currently working as a Scientific Researcher on Bio-based products with the aim to synthesize sunscreen ingredients using natural products.

Alba Fernández

Researcher in Cosmetic Applications

Alba graduated in Pharmacy from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her interest in dermopharmacy grew during her studies and led her to specialize in cosmetics, completing a Master's Degree in Dermopharmacy and Cosmetology at the University of Barcelona a few years later. After completing her studies, she spent several years gaining experience of the different fields in the cosmetics industry (specifically in the R&D department) such as skin and hair care, as well as perfumery, focusing on developing cosmetic formulation.