PARIS, Oct 30 (APM) - Christopher Viehbacher said he was “sad” to leave Sanofi, after the board dismissed him on Wednesday on grounds of management problems, including poor implementation of strategy.
“From a professional point of view, I entirely respect the board decision. On a personal level, I am sad as it has been a great privilege and a fantastic experience to work with you on building the important company that is Sanofi today,” he said in an internal message late on Wendesday, which APM has seen.
“Wherever I went in France and Europe, in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the U.S. or Canada, I was impressed by the passion and professionalism of our teams. You always welcomed me warmly. Meeting our teams has always been a source of energy and happiness for me,” he added.
The man, known internally as the “smiling killer”, was appointed CEO in 2008. In his message he says “these last six years, we have accomplished many things together. There have been difficult moments and decisions that have been just as difficult to take”.
“However, as you have been able to see by looking at our third-quarter results, published on Tuesday, our group is healthy. Our R&D teams have been able to develop an impressive number of new therapies that will benefit the patients.” (APMMA 40241)
Viehbacher ends his message, referring to a “feeling of pride” he has in his colleagues “for all you achieve and will continue to achieve”.
“It has been a great adventure to carry out this mission together with you and all my wishes for success accompany you,” he concludes.
On Wednesday morning, Sanofi announced its board had unanimously decided to dismiss him, mentioning management problems, poor implementation of strategy and lack of confidence (APMMA 40268).
He also said the board's chairman, Serge Weinberg, would assume the functions of CEO, while waiting for the appointment of a successor and that the strategy of the group will not change.
According to a union source questioned by APM, Viehbacher left his office in rue de la Boétie (in the 8th district of Paris) at the end of the day on Wednesday.
In an internal message transmitted at 7pm, which APM has seen, Weinberg announced he has chosen Sanofi senior vice-president and secretary general Philippe Peyre to serve as executive assistant along with his other duties.
David Khougazian, who was executive assistant to Viehbacher, will report directly to Peyre.
The first Sanofi CEO who was not French, Viehbacher who has German and Canadian nationality, substantially transformed the group, reviewing R&D in-depth because he did not consider it productive enough, and restructuring the portfolio in order to manage patent expiries on its main drugs starting in the late 2000s.
He put the focus on “growth platforms” and initiated the shift to biotechnologies with the acquisition in 2011 for $20.1 billion of Genzyme, and guided the group to an open innovation model, turned more to the international market.
On Wednesday, Weinberg said Sanofi would find the “best possible successor” to Viehbacher “as soon as possible”. Whereas contacts have already been established, he said the group is in favour of external recruitment and that nationality would not be a selection criterion.
Citing competent sources, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the board had contacted the current CEO of AstraZeneca, French citizen Pascal Soriot, who is currently overseeing the re-organisation of the British group and which saw off at attempt by Pfizer to buy AZN earlier this year.
The names of two other French citizens are also mentioned: Smith & Nephew's CEO Olivier Bohuon, and former CEO of UCB Roch Doliveux.
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