Meet our team
Behind HeW Pharma is a passionate multidisciplinary team led by Ann and Gunther, combining years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation development and healthcare innovation.
Together with our team of pharmacists, engineers, scientists, formulators and quality specialists, we work daily on the development and production of high-quality pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations manufactured according to strict Belgian GMP standards.
From R&D and regulatory support to production, quality control and technical documentation, every department works closely together to ensure precision, consistency and long-term product quality.
Driven by science, innovation and pharmaceutical expertise, our team continuously develops new formulations and manufacturing solutions tailored to the evolving needs of pharmacies, healthcare professionals and modern brands.
Ann Denert
Founder & Managing Director
Ann co-founded HeW Pharma with a clear vision: developing high-quality pharmaceutical and cosmetic products manufactured according to strict Belgian GMP standards.
With strong experience in pharmaceutical distribution, sales and business development, she oversees the daily operations, strategic growth and partnerships of HeW Pharma while ensuring a practical, customer-focused approach throughout the company.
Ing. Gunther Rombouts
Founder & Managing Director Production & Engineering
Gunther is an industrial engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry.
Specialized in pharmaceutical production environments, automation and process optimization, he leads the technical and operational side of HeW Pharma, including cleanroom infrastructure, manufacturing systems and production scalability.
Dr. Ammar Kurdi, PhD
Responsible Pharmacist & Quality Assurance
Ammar combines pharmaceutical expertise with advanced scientific and regulatory knowledge. As Responsible Pharmacist, he oversees quality assurance, compliance and pharmaceutical operations within HeW Pharma.
His expertise includes pharmaceutical development, quality systems, regulatory compliance and evidence-based formulation support.
Apr. Liezl Verhelst
Industrial Pharmacist & R&D Formulator
Liezl specializes in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulation development with a strong focus on active ingredients, skin compatibility and product performance.
Combining pharmaceutical expertise with modern dermocosmetic science, she develops scientifically supported formulations designed according to pharmaceutical-quality standards.
Apr. Marte Verneirt
Industrial Pharmacist & R&D Formulator
Marte focuses on innovative cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulation development with attention to efficacy, stability and sustainability.
With expertise in cosmetic sciences and pharmaceutical development, she supports R&D projects from formulation concept to technical optimization and product validation.
Matthias Dillien
Production Lead & Technical Operations
Matthias oversees production operations, technical installations and manufacturing efficiency within HeW Pharma.
With a background in automation engineering and electromechanics, he plays a key role in scaling formulations from laboratory development to efficient GMP production while maintaining high technical and quality standards.
Ann Denert
“I felt there was a real need for honest products and transparency. Many brands invest more in marketing than in their ingredients - but at HeW Pharma, we wanted to do things differently.
Together with my husband Gunther, I took on the challenge in 2018 to develop our own skincare line. Our products are produced in Belgium and developed with one clear goal: achieving maximum results for the skin.
My role at HeW Pharma? Making sure that everything we develop and produce ultimately reaches the customer in the best possible way.”
Ing. Gunther Rombouts
“In the pharmaceutical sector, I took major steps in automating Dafalgan and Imodium production processes on projects for companies such as Baxter, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, always with strong focus on scalability and quality validation according to the strictest standards.
In 2003, I founded HeW Automation, later followed by our GMP-certified production facility HeW Pharma in Antwerp.
My mission? Creating products that truly work, with top quality as the standard. Innovation and formulation remain my greatest motivation to this day.”
Dr. Ammar Kurdi, PhD
“I am a pharmaceutical consultant with a PhD in Pharmacology at Antwerp University, specialized in R&D and quality assurance within the pharmaceutical industry.At HeW Pharma, I use my scientific expertise to develop skin-friendly and effective formulations based on clinically supported active ingredients.My focus lies in combining natural ingredients with proven efficacy, without unnecessary or irritating additives. Together with the team, I strive to create skincare that delivers results while respecting the skin’s natural balance.”
Apr. Liezl Verhelst
“After completing my studies in Drug Development and specializing in Industrial Pharmacy (QP) at Antwerp University, I combine my work at HeW Pharma with experience as a community pharmacist.In the pharmacy, I noticed a lack of truly skin-friendly skincare products: too many irritating substances and active ingredients dosed too low to be truly effective. At HeW Pharma, I develop formulas that are both mild and powerful - with clinically supported, natural active ingredients and without unnecessary additives. I also closely monitor the quality of every product according to the strictest pharmaceutical standards.My biggest motivation? Creating skincare that truly works while respecting the skin.”
Apr. Marte Verneirt
“I am a pharmacist and R&D cosmetic formulator at HeW Pharma. After completing my Master’s degree in Drug Development at Ghent University, I pursued a postgraduate degree in Cosmetic Sciences at Erasmus University College Brussels, which provided me with a strong scientific foundation in both pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.At HeW Pharma, I combine my passion for science and cosmetics by developing cosmetic products that are scientifically supported, with strong focus on quality, safety and effective active ingredient dosages. Sustainability also plays a central role - from raw material selection to packaging.My goal is to create effective, safe and reliable cosmetics that not only care for the skin, but also provide a positive user experience.”
Matthias Dillien
“From a young age, I have been fascinated by industrial machinery and automation. In 2020, I graduated in Automation Engineering Electromechanics at AP University College, after previously studying Electricity.After an internship at HeW Automation, I joined HeW Pharma, where I contributed to the development of cleanrooms and installations while working on both software and mechanical optimizations. From my role on the production floor, with strong focus on process improvement and scaling, I developed a deep interest in chemical processes.Today, as Production Lead, I actively manage private label projects from A to Z, focusing on scaling, production capacity and delivering high-quality end results.”
