Novo Nordisk China Shakes Up Leadership: Flagship Obesity Unit Merged, VP Zhang Yifan Jumps to Lundbeck China

June 11, 2025According to industry sources,Novo Nordisk Global Senior Vice President and Greater China President Zhou Xiaping Announces Important Internal Announcement –Since June 12, Novo Nordisk China Obesity Business UnitAndInsulin CombinationAt the same time, Zhang Yifan, Vice President of Novo Nordisk China Obesity Business Department, will step down on June 30.

Data shows that Mr. Zhang Yifan, born in China and holding Danish nationality, graduated from Griffith University in Australia with a major in International Business and obtained a Master's degree in International Business and Trade from the Gothenburg School of Business in Sweden. In September 2009, he joined Novo Nordisk as a Global Management Trainee and subsequently held positions in multiple departments, accumulating extensive experience. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Senior Product Manager and Brand Lead for the GLP-1 product group at Novo Nordisk’s headquarters in Denmark.

At the end of 2019, Zhang Yifan was transferred to the Taiwan, China market, serving as the Director of Marketing, Access, and Public Affairs. In July 2023, he was appointed as the Vice President of the Obesity Business Unit for Greater China at Novo Nordisk, building the department from scratch and driving the launch of the weight-loss product Wegovy (Novo Ying) in China. Concurrently, he also serves as the National Sales Head for Novo Nordisk China's GLP-1 diabetes business, overseeing the commercialization of the diabetes brands Novo Tai and Novo Yi.

At the same time, Novo Nordisk China also announced plans for an organizational restructuring –

First, starting from June 12,The Obesity Marketing Department will report to Mr. Sasha Semienchuk (SASQ, Corporate Vice President of Marketing).This structure will promote synergy between the obesity, GLP-1 diabetes, and insulin market teams. Senior Marketing Director Ma Chao (OCHM), Senior Project Manager Chen Chang (NHCE), and Assistant to the Vice President Yan Jiayi (JXAY) will report to Xie Siyuan.

Secondly, starting from June 12,The Obesity Sales Team will report to Ms. Helen Zhang (HUZY.DBD Vice President of Enterprise).Therefore, Ms. Zhang Hui will be responsible for the sales of obesity and insulin product lines, and her newly led team will be named the Division of Obesity and Diabetes (DOD).

With this change, Senior Business Executive Manager Zhu Wei (WEZZ), Senior National Business Director Wu Die (DIWQ), and National Private Channel Key Account Director Wang Dan (NDWG) will report to Ms. Zhang Hui.

In short, Novo Nordisk ChinaMerger of DBD Insulin Group and Obesity Division, the establishment of the Obesity and Diabetes Division (DOD). DOD's sales management is overseen by Zhang Hui, Corporate Vice President of Novo Nordisk China Diabetes Division, and oversees two product lines: obesity and insulin.

Moreover, starting from July 1, the insulin sales team will also be responsible for the sales of NovoGain, and further communication will be conducted regarding the specific deployment of NovoGain in DOD.

Notably, after Novo Nordisk's obesity business unit was established in 2024, it initially operated as an independent department alongside the insulin product group and the GLP-1 product group. However, intensifying market competition, particularly pressure from rivals like Eli Lilly, has posed severe challenges to the obesity business. Reportedly, the number of prescriptions for Eli Lilly's tirzepatide weight-loss drug in the U.S. has surpassed that of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, further escalating competitive market pressures.In addition, the obesity business unit faces challenges in resource integration and synergistic development, and industry insiders claim that it may not have met the company's expected goals.

In addition to this personnel change and organizational restructuring, Novo Nordisk China also underwent a series of significant personnel changes and organizational adjustments in 2025. Below is a summary of the key information:

1. Jiang Yiwei, Vice President of the Emerging Business Division, Resigns

Background: Ms. Jiang Yiwei worked at Novo Nordisk for 6 years, serving as Senior Marketing Director of Insulin and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Hong Kong, among other roles, making significant contributions to the company's development.

Last Working Day: Her final workday will be March 3, 2025.

Interim Arrangement: The position will be temporarily assumed by Xiaoping Zhou, Global Senior Vice President and President of Greater China, until a new successor is determined.

2. Appointment of New Head of Emerging Business Division

Appointment: Nicole Niu (Yanlai Niu), Head of Rare Diseases Business Unit, Appointed as Corporate Vice President of Emerging Business Division (EBD) Effective March 31, 2025.

Responsibilities: Niu Yanlai will lead Novo Nordisk China's EBD team to drive the sustainable growth of the company’s GLP-1 diabetes product line in the Chinese market.

Background: Niu Yanlai joined Novo Nordisk in 2010 and has held key positions in the Diabetes Business Unit and the Rare Disease Business Unit, accumulating extensive experience in market promotion and patient support systems.

3、Changes in Senior Management of the Marketing Department

Effective April 1, 2025, former Korean General Manager Sasha Semienchuk will assume the role of Corporate Vice President of Marketing for Novo Nordisk Greater China.

Other Significant Personnel Changes – Global CEO Steps Down: On May 16, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, will step down. Market challenges and stock price fluctuations are cited as reasons for this change.

As Novo Nordisk's recent personnel changes sent shockwaves through the industry, Lundbeck swiftly announced that Zhang Yifan will join Lundbeck China (Mainland and Hong Kong) on July 1, 2025, as the new General Manager.

Since Jens Hoeyer, the former General Manager of Lundbeck China, left his position, it has been temporarily assumed by Yang Shaohua, Vice President of Strategy, Finance, Commercial, and Partnerships at Lundbeck China.After Zhang Yifan takes office, Yang Shaohua will continue to serve as the Vice President of Strategic Finance, Business, and Partnerships.

For Lundbeck China, the joining of Mr. Zhang Yifan will bring new development opportunities. In the context of rapid changes in the pharmaceuticals industry, companies need to continuously adjust their strategies and optimize talent arrangements to adapt to market shifts. Whether Lundbeck China can leverage Mr. Zhang Yifan’s expertise to achieve breakthroughs in relevant business areas is worth watching for the industry.

In summary, Mr. Zhang Yifan's career move and Novo Nordisk's organizational restructuring reflect the deep strategic adjustments and talent realignment in the pharmaceutical industry amid the current competitive landscape. Against the backdrop of increasingly fierce market competition, companies need to continuously optimize their talent deployment and organizational structure to enhance their competitiveness.

Relevant references: Pharmaceutical Representatives, Brother Luo, E-Pharma Dogs, etc.