Gilead lures Roche exec as chairman and CEO

Following the previously-announced plans of John Milligan to step down from the top post by year-end, US biotech major Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) has named Daniel O'Day as chairman and chief executive, effective March 1, 2019.

Mr O'Day is currently the CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals. He has held the position since 2012, and prior to that led Roche Diagnostics. His career spans three decades of diverse leadership roles across North America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

The board has also appointed Gregg Alton as interim CEO for the period of January 1, 2019 until Mr O'Day's start date of March 1, 2019. Mr Alton has held a number of executive positions at Gilead over the past 20 years, with experience in legal, medical affairs, policy and commercial. He previously served as general counsel and in August of this year, was appointed chief patient officer.