Sanofi CEO Olivier Brandicourt Becomes PhRMA Board Chairman

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) elected three new officers to its board of directors. Olivier Brandicourt, CEO, Sanofi, became chairman of the PhRMA board of directors. Giovanni Caforio, M.D., chairman of the Board and CEO, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company was named chairman-elect and David Ricks, chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly and Company assumed the role of board treasurer.

Brandicourt formerly held the position of chairman-elect of the board and succeeds Robert A. Bradway, chairman and CEO, Amgen Inc. as PhRMA board chairman.

"I am proud to welcome Olivier as PhRMA board chairman and thank Bob for his guidance and exemplary leadership during the past year," said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of PhRMA. "Our companies are making the promise of science a reality, developing treatments and cures previously thought unimaginable. Oliver's extensive experience in the health care industry will help PhRMA collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders on policy solutions that will ensure patients can access and afford these medicines."

Brandicourt has served as CEO, Sanofi, since April 2015. Brandicourt joined Sanofi from Bayer Healthcare AG where he served as CEO from 2013 until 2015. Prior to joining Bayer Healthcare, Brandicourt worked at Pfizer for 13 years, where he served as a member of the executive leadership team and as president and general manager of the emerging markets and established products business units. He is an honorary member of the Royal College of Physicians in London and a board member of the Children's Aid Society in New York. Brandicourt studied medicine at the University of Paris V where he specialized in infectious diseases and tropical medicine and holds an advanced degree in cellular and immunological pathophysiology from the Paris Descartes University. Brandicourt also received a master's degree in biology from the University of Paris XII.

"Last year, there were a record number of medicines approved to treat diseases with high unmet need," said Brandicourt. "As PhRMA board chairman, I look forward to engaging with stakeholders across the health care system to address affordability while sustaining this impressive pace of innovation that is bringing critical treatments to patients." 

Dr. Caforio has served as CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb since May 2015 and became chairman of the board of directors in May 2017. Dr. Caforio received his medical degree from the University of Rome and joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in Italy in 2000. He advanced through a series of roles in Europe and the United States, becoming president of the U.S. commercial organization in 2011. He was named chief commercial officer in 2013 and became chief operating officer in 2014. Dr. Caforio is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hun School of Princeton and a member of the Business Roundtable and the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

"The accelerated pace of scientific advances coupled with a greater understanding of disease biology is leading to the development of transformational medicines for more patients, ultimately providing greater hope for their future," said Dr. Caforio. "The industry continues to innovate how we develop new medicines for a wide range of diseases, and how we ensure patients can access these medicines."

Ricks has served as CEO of Lilly since January 1, 2017 and became chairman of the board of directors on June 1, 2017. A 20-year Lilly veteran, he previously served as president of Lilly Bio-Medicines and as president of Lilly USA, the company's largest affiliate. Ricks also served as president and general manager of Lilly China, operating in one of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets, and general manager of Lilly Canada after roles as director of pharmaceutical marketing and national sales director in that country. He is the president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) and serves on the board of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, the Elanco Board of Directors and the Adobe Board of Directors. Ricks is a graduate of Purdue University and earned his MBA from Indiana University.

"Scientists in the biopharmaceutical industry go to work each day with one mission: to create medicines to help people live longer, healthier, more productive lives," Ricks said. "We want to work with all parts of the U.S. health care system to improve it, so patients have affordable access to new medicines today and America's biopharmaceutical companies can create even better treatments tomorrow."

About PhRMA
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $600 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $71.4 billion in 2017 alone.

Connect with PhRMA
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, please visit: 
www.PhRMA.org 
www.Innovation.org  
www.GoBoldly.com
www.Facebook.com/PhRMA 
www.Twitter.com/PhRMA 

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

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