Sanofi appoints new finance head
pharmafile | December 11, 2008 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â Sanofi, restructureÂ
Sanofi-Aventis' head of finance and legal affairs Jean-Claude Leroy is to leave the company as new chief executive Chris Viehbacher remodels the company.
The company remained tight-lipped about the exact circumstances of Leroy's departure, but he looks to have been forced out as Viehbacher reshapes the company from the top.
Leroy's dual financial and legal role has been split between two new positions. Karen Linehan will become the company's new general counsel while Leroy's deputy Laurence Debroux takes over as chief financial officer.
Sanofi's biggest shareholders are keen to see changes at the company, which has suffered from a lack of direction. Gerard Le Fur was ousted following an underwhelming performance as chief executive between January 2006 and last September, when Viehbacher’s appointment was announced.
Leroy had served in senior finance positions for the company since the creation of Sanofi-Synethelabo in 1999, and leaves the company just days after Viehbacher took over as chief executive.
Analysts have called on Viehbacher to turn his attention to the company's weak product pipeline, the threat of generic competition, and more transparent company communication.
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