Sanofi: Belén Garijo Appointed as CEO
The Board of Directors of Sanofi has decided not to renew the mandate of Paul Hudson and has appointed Belén Garijo as the CEO. Belén Garijo will assume her role following the General Meeting of the Group scheduled for April 29, 2026.
Leadership Transition
Convened on February 11, 2026, the Board of Directors of Sanofi decided not to renew the directorship mandate of Paul Hudson. Consequently, Paul Hudson will leave his position as CEO on the evening of February 17, 2026, after six years at the helm of the group. The Board appointed Belén Garijo as CEO following a recommendation from the Nomination Committee. She will take up her duties following the General Meeting to be held on April 29, 2026. The Board will also propose Belén Garijo's candidacy as a board member of the Group to the shareholders.
Interim Leadership and Garijo's Background
Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President of General Medicine and a member of the Executive Committee since 2011, will serve as the interim CEO until Belén Garijo assumes her role. Garijo, a Spanish national with a doctorate in medicine, joined Merck KGaA in 2011 and was appointed CEO in 2021. She previously worked for six years in a hospital environment before embarking on a career in the pharmaceutical industry within the Research & Development department of Abbott, and later spent 15 years at Sanofi, where she served as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada and was a member of the Executive Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of BBVA and served on the Board of Directors of L'Oréal for ten years.
