Executive changes at Sanofi

Sanofi has added to its executive team with the appointments of Dr David Meeker and Carsten Hellmann.

Dr Meeker (pictured right) is currently CEO of Genzyme – the biotech acquired by Sanofi in 2011 – but from September 2013, he will serve on Sanofi's executive committee as executive VP, Genzyme.

Since the company's takeover, Dr Meeker has led the reorganisation of Genzyme, which has seen it establish itself as Sanofi's rare disease and multiple sclerosis business, with drugs such as Aubagio (teriflunomide) and Lemtrada (alemtuzumab).

“David has a deep knowledge of the rare diseases business and has developed a deep understanding of what physicians and patients need,” said Sanofi's CEO Christopher Viehbacher.

He added: “David will be a valuable addition to the Executive Committee and I am pleased to welcome him onboard.”

Carsten Hellmann (pictured left) joins Sanofi from food ingredient company Chr Hansen and takes over from Jose Barella as executive VP for Sanofi's animal health division Merial.

Hellmann was most recently executive VP, global sales at Chr Hansen having joined in 2006, and has previously served at Novo Nordisk and Synthelabo – one of the companies that merged to eventually become Sanofi.

He now takes control of a company with annual revenues of more than €2bn, making Merial the world's third-largest animal health company.

“I am confident that with [Hellmann's] expertise across the value chain from R&D, industrial affairs and through to business development and commercial sales, he will accelerate the growth of this promising division,” said Viehbacher.