New leadership for Sanofi Australia and New Zealand as part of its global reorganisation.
Sanofi's global CEO, Dr Olivier Brandicourt, announced a new structure in July, with the company reorganising into Global Business Units - Diabetes/Cardiovascular, Sanofi Genzyme Specialty Care, General Medicines, Consumer Healthcare, Sanofi Pasteur, and Merial.
The new structure represented a change from the company's previous focus on seven 'growth platforms' and different divisional setups across markets.
Under the local changes, the role of managing director of the Australia and New Zealand affiliate will no longer exist from 1 January, with incumbent and former Medicines Australia Board member Laurie McAllister relinquishing the position he has held since 2013.
Mr McAllister "has led the affiliate through an exciting period of challenge and growth since his appointment," said the company in a statement.
“It’s been a great journey in an incredibly exciting and challenging industry and I have loved every minute of it. We have fantastic medicines and products that protect, improve and save lives for hundreds of thousands of patients, consumers, customers and animals!
"On a personal note I am very proud of the entire team and I look forward to observing the continuing growth of the company in the future,” said Mr McAllister.
The company said he will remain with the affiliate in an advisory capacity until the end of March 2016.
Sanofi is the latest pharmaceutical company to announce a leadership change, following the recent departures of MSD's Dr Susanne Fiedler, Janssen's Chris Hourigan and Novo Nordisk's Peter Soelberg.
Sanofi confirmed that Karen Hood will assume the role of General Manager of the Diabetes/CV and General Medicines business unit. She has also been appointed Country Chair.
"The role of Country Chair is to lead cross business unit collaboration in-country. Karen has been with Sanofi since 1996 and is currently Director of the Pharmaceutical Division," it said.
The adoption of business units and 'country chairs' has become increasingly common across the pharmaceutical industry.
Fiona Clarke has been promoted General Manager of the Sanofi Genzyme Specialty Care business unit. Ms Clarke succeeds the former General Manager of Genzyme, Andre Turenne, who was promoted to Sanofi's Global Head of Business Development and Licensing, based in Paris, in November.
Ms Clarke is currently Business Unit Manager for Sanofi's Diabetes business unit in Australia and has been with the company since 2009.
The company also confirmed that several other senior executives will remain in their current positions.
Russell Jacobson was confirmed as General Manager of Sanofi Pasteur, having been with the company since 2001.
Andrew Palmer will remain General Manager of Merial. Mr Palmer has been with Merial since 2013.
Brett Charlton was been confirmed in his current position as General Manager of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, having joined the company last year, while Alan Carter will also remain in his current position as General Manager of New Zealand. Mr Carter joined Sanofi in 1996.
