Franz was previously Chair of Roche Holding AG, Chair of Diageo and Neogene Therapeutics. He is currently Chair of HMNC Brain Health, Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and Chair of the Humer Foundation and Chair of Kallyope Inc. Professional experience from positions in the pharmaceuticals industry at, among others, Schering Plough Corp. and at Glaxo, where he was Managing Director of Glaxo Pharmaceuticals UK and a member of the Board of Glaxo Holdings plc.