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Belén Garijo
The Board of Directors of Sanofi has appointed Belén Garijo as Chief Executive Officer, following its decision not to renew the director mandate of Paul Hudson.
Hudson’s last day as CEO will be February 17, 2026. The Board expressed its gratitude for his leadership and contributions to the Group’s transformation and growth over the past six years.
Garijo will officially assume her duties at the conclusion of the Group’s Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026. Her appointment as a director will also be submitted for shareholder approval. During the transition period, Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President, General Medicines, will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Garijo is expected to reinforce the execution of Sanofi’s strategy, with a strong focus on enhancing productivity, governance, and innovation within Research & Development. A medical doctor by training, she joined Merck KGaA in 2011 and became its CEO in 2021, making history as the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany.
Earlier in her career, Garijo worked in hospital medicine before transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry, holding R&D roles at Abbott Laboratories and spending 15 years at Sanofi, where she served as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada and was a member of the Executive Committee. She also serves on the board of BBVA and previously on L'Oréal.
