Sanofi Announces Surprise CEO Change, Appoints Belén Garijo as New Leader
In a significant and unexpected leadership transition, French pharmaceutical major Sanofi has named Belén Garijo as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing the incumbent Paul Hudson. The company made this surprise announcement in an official statement released on February 12, marking a strategic shift for the global biopharma firm.
Board Decision and Transition Timeline
Sanofi's Board of Directors, during a meeting held on February 11, decided not to renew the director mandate of Paul Hudson. According to the company statement, Hudson's last day as CEO will be February 17. The Board expressed gratitude for his valuable contributions to the transformation and development of the Group over the past six years, acknowledging his role in steering the company through a period of significant change.
Belén Garijo is scheduled to officially assume the CEO role on April 29, following the conclusion of the Group's Annual General Meeting. During this meeting, the Board will propose appointing Garijo as a director of the Group and will also seek to amend the articles of association to raise the CEO age limit, facilitating her appointment.
Interim Leadership Arrangement
To ensure a smooth transition, Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President of General Medicines and a member of the Executive Committee since 2011, will take on the role of Interim CEO during the period between Hudson's departure and Garijo's official start date. This interim arrangement aims to maintain operational continuity and strategic momentum within the organization.
Profile of the New CEO: Belén Garijo
Born in Almansa, Spain on July 31, 1960, Belén Garijo is a medical doctor specializing in clinical pharmacology. Her career began as a practicing physician at Madrid's La Paz Hospital, where she worked for six years before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry. She initially joined the Research and Development department at Abbott, followed by a 15-year tenure at Sanofi.
During her previous time at Sanofi, Garijo held the position of Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada and served as a member of Sanofi's Executive Committee. Her responsibilities spanned multiple European countries and the United States, where she notably led the integration of Genzyme following its acquisition by Sanofi.
Garijo's leadership extends beyond the pharmaceutical sector. She is a recognized strategic leader who currently serves on the Board of Directors of BBVA and previously spent ten years on the Board of Directors of L'Oréal. In 2011, she joined Merck KGaA, rising to become its CEO in 2021 and making history as the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany.
Her achievements have earned her international recognition. Since 2022, Garijo has been featured on Fortune and Forbes' annual lists of Most Powerful Women. In 2022, she received the German Diversity Honorary Award and was designated an Honorary Brand Ambassador for Spain by King Felipe VI. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the John M. McCloy Award from the American Council on Germany for her contributions to strengthening transatlantic relations and her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Strategic Rationale Behind the Appointment
Sanofi's Board has expressed strong confidence in Garijo's ability to drive the company forward. According to the official statement, the Board expects her to bring increased rigor to the implementation of Sanofi's strategy and accelerate preparations for the Group's future. Her primary focus will be on strengthening the productivity, governance, and innovation capacity of the Research & Development division.
Frédéric Oudéa, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasized Garijo's qualifications, stating that she is a well-recognized leader in the industry with an undisputed reputation. Oudéa highlighted her deep familiarity with Sanofi, where she previously held important positions and achieved numerous successes over 15 years. He noted that her experience and profile position her to accelerate the pace of execution, enhance strategic implementation quality, and lead the company into its next growth cycle, which is crucial for building Sanofi's future.
Oudéa further commented that in a rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape, Sanofi is placing itself in experienced hands. Garijo's illustrious international career demonstrates her strategic vision and ability to drive profound, value-creating transformations with a culture of rigor, ultimately serving the best interests of patients worldwide.
Context and Market Challenges
This leadership change comes at a critical juncture for Sanofi, as the company faces impending challenges in its product portfolio. According to a Bloomberg report, outgoing CEO Paul Hudson had been under pressure to develop replacement sales for Sanofi's top-selling asthma and skin disease drug, Dupixent, which is expected to lose patent protection in the 2030s. Efforts to address this looming gap have reportedly faced setbacks, including a series of underwhelming clinical trial updates in the previous year.
A Reuters report added that Hudson did not immediately respond to queries regarding the leadership transition. Sanofi, described in its statement as an R&D-driven, AI-powered listed biopharma company, applies deep understanding of the immune system to develop medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions globally. The appointment of Garijo is seen as a strategic move to navigate these market uncertainties and reinforce the company's innovation trajectory.
Key Implications of the Leadership Transition
Belén Garijo's appointment represents a strategic pivot for Sanofi as it confronts evolving market dynamics and competitive pressures. The leadership change underscores the pharmaceutical industry's urgent need for innovation, robust governance, and sustainable growth strategies. Garijo's extensive background in pharmaceuticals, combined with her proven track record in executive roles, equips her to address upcoming challenges effectively and steer Sanofi through a period of transformation.
This transition also highlights the broader trend of diversity in corporate leadership. Garijo's historic appointment as the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany and her new role at Sanofi exemplify how diverse leadership can enhance organizational approaches to governance, inclusivity, and strategic decision-making. As Sanofi embarks on this new chapter, the industry will be watching closely to see how Garijo's leadership influences the company's direction and performance in the years ahead.
