Executive appoints at EFPIA and Cepheid

Christopher Viehbacher, chief executive of French drug major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN), has been named as new President elect of trade group the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). He will take up the position as of June 2013 for a two year term, replacing GlaxoSmithKline CEO Sir Andrew Witty whose term expires at that time.

His designation comes at a key moment for the pharmaceutical industry, notes the EFPIA, adding that the European institutions are now focusing on a growth agenda in which the pharmaceutical industry will play a fundamental role. This has been stated by President Barroso’s state of the Union address as well as the reindustrialization policy launched by the Commission’s DG Entreprise in October of this year.

Commenting on the designation, Richard Bergstrom, director general of the EFPIA, said: “Chris Viehbacher is well placed to take over the leadership of EFPIA. At this time, it is important to remind ourselves and others what is needed to sustain research based pharmaceuticals in Europe. Chris was involved in the high-level group G10 Medicines and has shown his ability to engage with policy-makers world-wide. I look forward to working with him.”