Sanofi's Board decided not to renew Paul Hudson's mandate; his last day as CEO is February 17, 2026.2
Belén Garijo, current CEO of Merck KGaA, appointed as Sanofi's new CEO effective April 29, 2026, pending shareholder approval.123
Olivier Charmeil will serve as Interim CEO during the transition.23
Garijo previously worked at Sanofi for 15 years, including key roles in operations and Genzyme integration.23
Sanofi shares declined 5% following the announcement.3
The move follows challenges including vaccine sales declines despite overall sales growth driven by Dupixent.3
Sources:
1. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/sanofi-ousts-paul-hudson-after-bumpy-ride-poaches-merck-kgaa-ceo-lead-company
2. https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2026/2026-02-12-06-30-00-3236866
3. https://www.biospace.com/business/sanofi-shares-decline-as-paul-hudson-removed-as-ceo-making-way-for-merck-kgaas-belen-garijo