Tagged with Leadership

Global Since Paul Hudson took the helm in 2019, Sanofi has been in transformation mode, shedding its consumer health assets to focus on high-growth areas like oncology, immunology, and vaccines. With bold investments in R&D and AI-driven innovation, the French pharma is positioning itself as a pure-play biopharma leader. In conversation…

USA Since Christopher Viehbacher took the reins of Biogen in 2022, he has launched a USD 1 billion cost-cutting and priority refocusing plan, made significant deals, and launched the firm’s Alzheimer’s drug Legembi. But snags slowing the uptake of the Eisai-partnered med and the fall in sales of its multiple sclerosis…

Japan After 12 years at the helm, Takeda CEO Christophe Weber is stepping down, leaving behind a transformed company. Under his leadership, Japan’s biggest drugmaker expanded globally with the $62 billion acquisition of Shire, made waves with its dengue vaccine QDENGA, navigated the loss of exclusivity on its ADHD blockbuster, and…

Merck Over the course of its 350-year history, Merck KGaA has expanded from its base in Darmstadt, Germany to establish a strong presence in various markets across the globe. Last year, PharmaBoardroom spoke with Merck affiliate leaders in multiple geographies, uncovering their concerns and priorities as the firm pushed to recover…

Global In 2024, global biopharma faced a challenging landscape shaped by geopolitical tensions and cost containment measures in key markets. Despite these pressures, most major players perhaps surprisingly opted to retain their CEOs, focusing instead on reshaping management at other levels. Companies like Bayer underwent sweeping transformations, while others, such as…

China Since raising USD 289 million in its Spring 2020 Hong Kong IPO, InnoCare Pharma has had a remarkable rise. Led by a team of Big Pharma veterans and now also listed in Shanghai, the firm has secured regulatory approvals for its BTK inhibitor for haematological cancers in mainland China and…

Global Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla’s ‘annus horribilis’ shows no sign of abating. From being feted as the industry darling of the COVID-19 period, Pfizer management is now being accused of USD 20 billion worth of “value destruction” by activist investors. As new analysis shows, Bourla has also suffered the ignominy of…

UAE Pfizer has a new regional president for its vast Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA) country grouping. Turkish national Elif Aral, a 29-year Pfizer veteran, will take over from Patrick van der Loo, who becomes Pfizer Germany’s country president.   The Context This is a challenging and diverse region, where…

Mexico This year has seen no less than five GM changes at international pharma companies’ Mexican affiliates. Pfizer, MSD, Roche, Sanofi and Gilead have all taken on new local leadership. In some cases, the appointments represent a first for affiliates that have never had female leaders while in others they coincide…

USA AbbVie, for only the second time in its history, has a new CEO. Having been led by Richard A. Gonzalez since its inception in 2013, the organization has named former president and chief operating officer Robert A. Michael as its new leader. As he takes on the role this month,…

China After a glittering career in corporate America, in 2011 Jasmine Cui returned to China and in 2015 launched her own biotech, Innocare. The firm, which focuses on oncology and autoimmune disease R&D, has a BTK inhibitor for haematological cancers already approved in China and boasts an extensive pipeline. In conversation…

Saudi Arabia Last year, Dimitri Livadas made the unconventional leap from Big Pharma to a local Saudi firm, Saudi Chemical. In conversation, he explains the motivating factors behind this decision, including Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future, the legacy and growth potential of Saudi Chemical, and the unique opportunity to be part…