Roche announces shifts within corporate executive committee

Roche has revealed that some changes are afoot within its corporate executive committee, as three of its members are set to retire in the coming months.

William Burns, aged 62, currently chief executive of the pharma division, Juergen Schwiezer, 65, head of the diagnostics department, and Jonathan Knowles, 62, who fronts group research at the firm, will all relinquish their posts at the end of 2009.

Appointments have already been made to fill the gaps left by these professionals, with chief executive of Genentech and existing member of the committee Pascal Soriot to take on the role of chief operating officer.

The new head of Roche research and early development will be Jean-Jacques Garaud, while Dan Zabrowski will become a member of the enlarged executive committee.

Chairman of Roche Franz Humer stated: “With this strong leadership team, Roche will continue to be successful in the years ahead.”

News of this re-shuffle comes after Roche announced that MabThera – its medicine for previously-treated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia – has been approved for marketing in Europe.