John Sjovall – a longtime LTEN member and a current member at-large and former president of the LTEN Board of Directors – has announced his retirement. Sjovall is also retiring from his position as executive director, commercial learning and development, for SK Life Science. His retirement was effective Aug. 2.
Sjovall worked in life sciences sales and training for more than 31 years, starting shortly after serving in the U.S. Army after college. Sjovall helped build and lead training functions at Daiichi Sankyo, Collegium Pharmaceutical and most recently for SK Life Sciences for the past five years.
Sjovall joined LTEN in 2004, attending his first LTEN Annual Conference that year. In 2008 he joined the LTEN Board of Directors, where he served as treasurer from 2009 to 2013 and was president for the 2014-2015 term.
“John set a high standard as an LTEN member and officer,” said Greg Adamson, president of the LTEN Board of Directors. “He’s been an exemplary leader as well as a good friend, and we’re going to miss his voice at our meetings. John, thank you for your military service as well as all you’ve done for LTEN. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement!”
Lauren Harbert, executive director of LTEN, shared her own best wishes.
“We will miss working with John on a regular basis – he always brings an element of fun to our meetings,” Harbert said. “His larger-than-life personality made him successful as a leader because he was so good at sharing the value of LTEN with members and partners. Whether he was dancing onstage as LTEN John or guiding new members to succeed, he brought his all to each responsibility. John, thank you for everything.”
For his part, Sjovall is looking forward to retirement and is grateful for all the support he’s received from his LTEN family over the years.
“It’s always bittersweet when one chapter ends and another begins, but my work here at LTEN will remain one of my proudest professional accomplishments,” Sjovall said. “I’ve enjoyed working so closely with all the board colleagues, as well as with Lauren and the LTEN team – everything I accomplished here was because of the support and friendship from those folks. I thank everyone I’ve worked with along the way to retirement and I look forward to seeing LTEN and its members bloom and blossom in the years ahead.”
