French pharmaceutical group Sanofi announced a leadership transition after its board decided not to renew the mandate of Chief Executive Officer Paul Hudson. His final day leading the company will be February 17, 2026.
The board simultaneously appointed Belen Garijo as the company’s next CEO. She will formally assume the role following the annual general meeting scheduled for April 29, 2026, subject to shareholder approval for her appointment as a director and related governance amendments.
During the interim period, Olivier Charmeil, executive vice president of General Medicines and a long-standing member of the executive committee, will serve as interim chief executive.
Chairman Frederic Oudea thanked Hudson for his six-year tenure, noting his role in advancing corporate transformation initiatives. The board said Garijo’s appointment is intended to accelerate execution of the company’s long-term strategy and prepare its next growth phase, particularly by strengthening research productivity, governance standards and innovation capacity.
Garijo brings extensive industry leadership experience. She joined Merck KGaA in 2011 and became its CEO in 2021, becoming the first woman to lead a company listed in Germany’s DAX 40 index. Earlier in her career she spent 15 years at Sanofi in senior leadership roles, including vice president of pharmaceutical operations for Europe and Canada, and played a role in integrating the biotechnology firm Genzyme following its acquisition.
Before entering the pharmaceutical industry, Garijo worked as a hospital physician and later held research and development roles at Abbott Laboratories. Beyond healthcare, she has served on the board of BBVA and previously spent a decade as a director at L’Oreal.
Sanofi said the leadership change comes at a time of rapid transformation across the global pharmaceutical sector, where companies are prioritizing innovation pipelines, biologics and specialty medicines. The board expressed confidence that Garijo’s international experience and operational track record position her to guide the company’s next development cycle.
Shareholders will vote on her directorship and a proposed amendment to the company’s articles of association at the April meeting. If approved, the transition will complete a planned succession process aimed at maintaining strategic continuity while accelerating execution of future growth plans.