AstraZeneca appoints new director

AstraZeneca has announced the appointment of Jean-Philipe Courtois to board of directors of the firm as a non-executive director, effective immediately.

Mr Courtois is currently employed as a senior vice-president of Microsoft and president of Microsoft International, a firm which operates in over 240 countries outside the US and Canada through 100 subsidiaries.

At Microsoft International, Mr Courtois leads global sales, marketing and services, while his responsibilities also include the firm’s worldwide public sector and communication sector businesses.

He has previously served as chief executive officer and president of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The company confirms that no disclosure obligations from the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority arise under paragraphs one to six of listing rule 9.6.13 in respect to this appointment.

Louis Schweitzer, chairman of AstraZeneca, said: “We are very pleased that Jean-Philippe Courtois has agreed to join us.”

He added that Mr Courtois’ vast experience in the fields of global sales and marketing, including knowledge of emerging markets, would be greatly beneficial to the company’s board of directors.

In November 2007, AstraZeneca appointed Simon Lowth to the position of chief financial officer and executive officer of the firm, with responsibility for finance and information services at the company.