By VETTAPHARMA reporter: Sanofi’s Board of Directors announced a major leadership change, appointing Belén Garijo, MD as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer. The decision follows the Board’s choice not to renew the Director mandate of outgoing CEO Paul Hudson, whose tenure will conclude at the end of business on February 17, 2026. The Board thanked Hudson for his six years of contributions to Sanofi’s transformation and development.
Dr. Garijo will officially assume her role after Sanofi’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 29, 2026, at which shareholders will also be asked to approve her nomination as a director of the Group and an amendment to the articles of association relating to age limits for CEO appointments.
During the transition period, Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President of General Medicines and a Sanofi Executive Committee member since 2011, will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Garijo brings extensive leadership experience to her new role. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Merck KGaA beginning in 2021, becoming the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany. Her career spans hospital work followed by roles in pharmaceutical research, operations, and executive leadership, including 15 years at Sanofi where she was Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada and an Executive Committee member. She also led Genzyme’s integration after its acquisition by Sanofi.
Frédéric Oudéa, Chairman of Sanofi’s Board of Directors, praised the selection of Dr. Garijo, noting her strategic vision and international experience as key to accelerating the execution of Sanofi’s strategy and guiding the company through its next growth phase. He emphasized that her leadership will be vital in strengthening productivity, governance, and innovation within the company’s research and development functions.
The leadership change is part of Sanofi’s ongoing evolution in a rapidly changing pharmaceutical industry, with the Board expressing confidence in Dr. Garijo’s ability to lead future growth and value creation for patients and stakeholders worldwide.
Source credit:
- Sanofi. (2026, February 12). Belén Garijo to become Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi. Click here
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