Overview
- Sanofi said Paul Hudson will leave the chief executive role on the evening of February 17 after the board chose not to renew his mandate.
- Executive vice president Olivier Charmeil will serve as interim chief, while Merck KGaA CEO and former Sanofi executive Belén Garijo is slated to take over after the April 29 meeting.
- The board will submit Garijo’s election to the board and a bylaws amendment raising the CEO appointment age limit for shareholder votes at the AGM.
- Sanofi shares fell about 5.2% to €78.27 in Paris trading following the leadership announcement.
- The shake-up follows prominent R&D setbacks, including a failed tolebrutinib trial, an FDA refusal and disappointing amlitelimab data, with the stock down roughly 13% in 2025, and the board flagged priorities to boost productivity, governance and R&D innovation.