Frans Van den Bergh

Baron Frans Van den Bergh (1914-21 October 1990) was a Belgian business man, who founded the cigar factory "Alto" in Turnhout, Belgium and who would become one of the leading managers of Janssen Pharmaceutica. In addition to his success with Alto, he was by the marriage of his daughter Lea related to Margriet Fleerackers, the mother of Dr. Paul Janssen. For these reasons, he was asked by the parents of Dr. Paul Janssen, Constant Janssen and Margriet Fleerackers, to help them manage the growing family business with its five branches.

In 1961, he became President of the Governing Board of Janssen Pharmaceutica which he would stay until 1980, when he was succeeded by Luc Wauters. He lead the negotiations with the Johnson & Johnson on the acquisition of Janssen Pharmaceutica. It was Frans Van den Bergh who suggested the name "Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V." for the company, which was accepted by Dr. Paul Janssen, and this name is in use since 10 February 1964.

Source

* [http://www.gva.be/dossiers/-j/janssen/janssen1.asp Janssen Pharmaceutica]
* [http://www.janssenpharmaceutica.com/pdf/InMemoriam.pdf In memoriam Dr. Paul Janssen]