Sanket Dawda is a seasoned compliance and governance leader with extensive expertise in developing, implementing, and managing compliance programs and governance frameworks across diverse industries. With a career that spans both in-house leadership and consulting roles, Sanket has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor, skilled strategist, and ethical leader. His ability to assess complex situations, identify risks, and develop effective solutions has consistently positioned him as a valuable partner to executive leadership teams.
Currently serving as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Compliance Officer at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Sanket plays a pivotal role in steering the organization toward excellence in compliance, risk management, and governance. His journey reflects a commitment to integrity, innovation, and service, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector, where he has established a remarkable footprint.
Shaping Global Compliance at Glenmark
At Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Sanket leads a global mandate with responsibility for setting up and managing a cross-functional team of compliance professionals. Under his leadership, the compliance function has evolved into a robust and coherent program designed to deliver better compliance outcomes and enhance risk management across the company’s global operations.
Sanket’s approach to compliance is rooted in practicality and adaptability. He ensures that the program is aligned with international best practices while being tailored to the diverse regulatory environments in which Glenmark operates. By integrating compliance into the company’s culture and operational strategy, he has successfully elevated the standards of governance within the organization.
Driving Risk Awareness and Mitigation
An essential part of Sanket’s role at Glenmark involves monitoring regulatory developments and assessing their impact on business operations. This requires not only deep subject matter expertise but also foresight and the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory frameworks into actionable guidance for business leaders.
Through structured frameworks and strategic initiatives, Sanket has enabled Glenmark to stay ahead of regulatory expectations, safeguarding the organization from potential risks while supporting its global growth. His work ensures that compliance is not seen as a limitation but as a driver of sustainable success.
A Career Built on Trust and Leadership
Before joining Glenmark, Sanket gained significant leadership experience across the pharmaceutical industry. His previous roles reflect a consistent ability to design and lead independent compliance and investigation functions that deliver real business impact.
At Biocon Biologics, he served as Global Head of Corporate Audit, Risk Management, and Investigations. In this capacity, he was responsible for establishing an independent function that worked closely with the Executive Leadership Team to identify strategic risks, implement de-risking strategies, and report directly to the Risk Committee. He also played a critical role in advising the Audit Committee and Independent Directors on internal financial controls, corporate governance issues, and risk exposures.
Prior to Biocon, Sanket spent nearly six years with GSK, where he held the position of Vice President and Head of the Corporate Investigations Team for Asia and ANZ. There, he built and managed a regional team that was diverse and inclusive, ensuring strong cooperation with stakeholder groups including HR, Legal, Assurance, and Compliance. His leadership emphasized a holistic approach to risk management with a focus on investigations. He also served as a nominated member of the Investigation Center of Excellence Leadership Team and regional governance boards, further extending his influence across the global compliance landscape.
A Specialist in Pharmaceutical Compliance
Sanket’s diverse industry experience is enriched by his deep expertise in the pharmaceutical sector. This industry demands the highest levels of ethical conduct and regulatory adherence, and Sanket has consistently demonstrated his ability to meet and exceed these expectations.
His work has spanned sensitive areas such as investigations, anti-corruption frameworks, corporate governance, and risk management, where integrity and precision are critical. By establishing processes that prioritize transparency and accountability, Sanket has contributed significantly to maintaining trust in pharmaceutical operations.
Leadership Philosophy and Skills
Colleagues and stakeholders recognize Sanket as a leader who combines technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills. His ability to analyze complex challenges and develop pragmatic solutions is matched by his capacity to inspire and lead diverse teams.
Sanket believes that compliance and governance are not stand-alone functions but integral to the overall success of an organization. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment, enabling teams to deliver consistently high standards of performance. His analytical rigor, paired with a genuine commitment to ethical practices, ensures that compliance initiatives are embraced rather than resisted.
Partnering with Business for Growth
A distinguishing feature of Sanket’s career has been his ability to act as a bridge between compliance and business leadership. He understands that compliance must align with organizational objectives to create meaningful impact. Rather than positioning compliance as a policing function, he works with stakeholders to integrate it into strategic decision-making.
This perspective has made him a trusted partner to senior executives and boards. His insights help organizations pursue growth with confidence, knowing that their operations rest on a solid foundation of governance and accountability.
Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability at Glenmark
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is a research-led organization committed to innovation and patient-centric solutions. Within this context, Sanket’s role extends beyond compliance to supporting the company’s broader mission of enriching lives. By ensuring that governance frameworks support innovation, he contributes to the organization’s ability to deliver new therapies in dermatology, respiratory care, oncology, and beyond.
He also plays a role in aligning compliance and governance with Glenmark’s sustainability agenda. The company is deeply invested in achieving its Environmental, Social, and Governance goals, and Sanket’s expertise ensures that these commitments are met with credibility and transparency. His work supports Glenmark’s responsibility to communities worldwide, where the company’s initiatives have already touched the lives of millions.
Global Vision with Local Sensitivity
Sanket’s global responsibilities require a careful balance of international consistency and local adaptability. He has demonstrated a remarkable ability to design compliance programs that respect cultural nuances while maintaining the highest ethical standards. This approach has proven especially important in emerging and regulated markets, where local dynamics require tailored solutions.
His global outlook, combined with a deep respect for local contexts, ensures that compliance frameworks are both effective and practical across diverse geographies.
Looking Ahead
As Senior Vice President and Global Chief Compliance Officer at Glenmark, Sanket continues to build on his legacy of integrity, leadership, and innovation. His vision for the future includes further strengthening global compliance frameworks, deepening engagement with stakeholders, and leveraging technology to enhance monitoring and risk management.
With his proven track record and unwavering commitment to excellence, Sanket remains at the forefront of compliance leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. His work not only protects organizations from risks but also empowers them to achieve sustainable growth, innovation, and social responsibility.