AstraZeneca makes changes to executive leadership

AstraZeneca has announced changes to the company's senior executive team aimed at increasing representation of its scientific expertise, key products and key markets.

The changes include the creation of three senior research and development roles for discovery and early-stage development in small molecules, discovery and early-stage development in biologics, and late-stage development.

Three additional roles will be introduced to represent the North American, European and international commercial regions, while a position overseeing global portfolio and product strategy will also be set up.

As a result of this, president of research and development Martin Mackay and global commercial executive vice-president Tony Zook will leave the company at the end of this month, as their positions are to be phased out.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, said: "This new senior executive team structure … enables us to bring an even sharper management focus to key pipeline assets, key brands and key markets, and helps us further accelerate decision-making."

This comes after the company announced a new centre of excellence agreement with Cellular Dynamics International earlier this month, focusing on the use of stem cell technology in future drug development.