Amid Shifting Pharma Landscape, Multinational Drugmakers Accelerate Leadership Changes in 2022

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry DynamicsIn 2022, amid changes in the pharmaceutical environment, several local pharmaceutical companies underwent significant personnel adjustments, including traditional pharmaceutical companies such as Daren Tang and innovative biopharmaceutical companies like Innovent Biologics and CStone Pharmaceuticals. Not only that, but this year has also seen an acceleration in leadership changes among several multinational pharmaceutical companies.
 

AstraZeneca: Liu Ming Appointed as Vice President of AstraZeneca China
 

On August 30, AstraZeneca announced the appointment of Liu Ming as Vice President of AstraZeneca China, Head of the Lung Cancer and Tumor Immunotherapy Business Unit of the Oncology Division. Liu Ming will also join the China Management Team and report directly to Chen Kangwei, General Manager of AstraZeneca's Oncology Division, effective August 30.
 

Previously, Liu Ming served as the Vice President of Novartis Oncology and the Head of the Solid Tumor Division, overseeing areas including breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and rare diseases.
 

　　Sandoz: Greater China President Yu Hui-ming Departs
 

On August 24, Sandoz announced that Yu Hui-ming, President of its Greater China region, will leave Sandoz to pursue external career development opportunities, with the last working day being September 28, 2022.
 

Yu Huiming once held roles in business management and marketing at Wyeth and Pfizer Vaccines. In 2012, Yu joined Sandoz as the General Manager for the Hong Kong region and was appointed Chief Operating Officer for Greater China in May of the same year. In early 2022, Yu officially became the President of Sandoz Greater China. The tenure as President of Greater China lasted less than a year from appointment to departure.
 

　Janssen China: Han Jun Takes Over as Compliance Officer of Janssen China Medical Compliance Department
 

On August 22, Zheng Lei, President of Janssen China, announced to employees that Han Jun will join Janssen as the Compliance Officer of the Medical Compliance Department of Janssen China, becoming a member of the Janssen China management team. He will be based in Beijing and directly report to Young Sang Kwon, head of the Medical Compliance Department for Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical business in the Asia-Pacific region.
 

Before joining Xian Janssen in China, Han Jun served as the Senior Compliance Director for Novo Nordisk in Greater China, and earlier, he worked as a Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young China.
 

　　Fresenius: Michael Sen Takes Over as CEO, Yang Weiping Appointed President and Chairman of Fresenius Kabi China
 

On August 19, Fresenius Group announced that Michael Sen will succeed Stephan Sturm as the new CEO of Fresenius Group on October 1, 2022. Meanwhile, Michael Sen will continue to serve as the CEO of Fresenius Kabi until a successor is determined.
 

Additionally, on July 28, Fresenius Kabi announced that Yang Weiping will assume the roles of President and Chairman of Fresenius Kabi China, reporting directly to Ulf Jansson, Executive Vice President of Fresenius Kabi Asia-Pacific. The appointment will take effect from August 1.
 

　　Merck: Wei Zhang Appointed as the New General Manager of Merck's Healthcare Business in China
 

On June 27, Merck announced the appointment of Wei Zhang as the new General Manager of Merck's Healthcare Business in China. The appointment will officially take effect on July 1, 2022.
 

Zhang Wei has 23 years of domestic and overseas working experience in pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Before joining Merck, she served as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Market Access at Xian Janssen. She also led five business units, including Psychiatry, Neurology, Dermatology & Allergy, General Medicine, and Retail, driving double-digit performance growth for the company.
 

　　Sanofi: Shi Wang Takes Over as Head of China Region and General Medicines Division in Greater China
 

On June 22, Sanofi announced that Shi Wang will assume the role of Head of China and General Medicines Lead for Greater China, effective August 1. As the Country Lead of Sanofi China, Shi Wang will leverage various partnerships to enhance patient access to Sanofi's product portfolio and will continue to recruit and develop the next generation of talent in the Greater China region. Meanwhile, Dr. Hoenig, the former President of Greater China, will assume the global leadership role of Sanofi’s Digital Division starting August 1.
 

Shi Wang has over 20 years of professional experience and has held several senior executive positions in international pharmaceutical companies, including General Manager of AstraZeneca Hong Kong, Head of Sales at Merck China, and Business Unit Head.
 

　　Merck: Chirfi Guindo Appointed as Chief Marketing Officer of Human Health
 

On June 21, Merck announced that Chirfi Guindo would serve as the Chief Marketing Officer of Human Health, reporting directly to CEO and President Robert M. Davis, effective July 1, 2022. He will be responsible for leading the formulation and implementation of the company’s long-term strategy, covering oncology, vaccines, and other human health products in the pipeline.
 

　　Novartis: Xia Shaofei, Head of the Hematology Division, Resigns
 

On March 2, Novartis Oncology (China) announced that Xia Shaofei, Head of the Hematology Business Unit, will leave Novartis to pursue external career opportunities. Meanwhile, Wang Wei, the current head of the North 1 Region of the Hematology Business Unit, will temporarily assume his position, overseeing all operations of the Hematology Business Unit’s marketing and promotion teams.
 

　　Abbott: Abbott Global Vice President Resigns
 

On February 24, internal news from Abbott revealed that the organizational structure of the Core Diagnostics Division will be adjusted. Tony Chan, Abbott's Global Vice President and President of China Core Diagnostics, has decided to seek external opportunities. At the same time, Fanny Chen has been appointed as the President of Abbott China Core Diagnostics, reporting to Greg Ahlberg, Senior Vice President of Global Core Laboratory Diagnostics Business Commercial Operations.
 

　　Conclusion
 

With the normalization of drug procurement, not only domestic pharmaceutical companies are affected, but multinational pharmaceutical companies also have to accelerate strategic adjustments. Against this backdrop, the flow of talent has intensified. From the perspective of the flow direction of talents from multinational pharmaceutical enterprises in recent years, some have moved to competing enterprises, while others have moved to local pharmaceutical companies. The industry expects that the battle for high-level talents will continue in the future.
 

Disclaimer: In any case, the information or opinions expressed in this article do not constitute investment advice for anyone.