AstraZeneca announces new changes to non-executive board

AstraZeneca has announced a series of incoming changes to its non-executive board, with Dr Cornelia Bargmann nominated as its latest member.

Dr Bargmann is the Torsten Wiesel Professor and head of the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior at New York's Rockefeller University. She will be up for election as a non-executive board member at the company's annual general meeting in April.

It has also been announced that John Varley, senior independent non-executive director, and Dame Nancy Rothwell, a non-executive director, both intend to retire from the board at the close of this meeting.

Leif Johansson, AstraZeneca's chairman, said: "I speak for all of my colleagues on the board in saying that we will miss them and their contribution to our work; they go with our very best wishes for their future endeavours."

Following their departure, Rudy Markham will become senior independent non-executive director, with Graham Chipchase chairing the remuneration committee, Bruce Burlington leading the science committee and Genevieve Berger overseeing sustainability matters.

Earlier this month, the company received planning permission to build its new global research and development centre and corporate headquarters in Cambridge. The facility remains on track to become fully operational by the end of 2016.