Sanofi’s board has appointed Belén Garijo as Chief Executive Officer, with the transition set to take place after the company’s annual general meeting on April 29, 2026. Paul Hudson will step down on February 17, 2026, after the board chose not to renew his director mandate. During the interim period, Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President of General Medicines and a long-time member of the executive committee, will serve as interim CEO.
Chairman Frédéric Oudéa described her as “a well-recognized leader in our industry with an undisputable reputation.” He noted that Garijo knows Sanofi exceptionally well after holding senior roles at the group for 15 years, during which she delivered multiple successes. Oudéa added that she brings the right experience and leadership profile to move the company forward, stating that she has the capability to “accelerate the pace, strengthen the quality of execution of strategy and lead the next growth cycle of the company.”
Garijo previously led Merck KGaA from 2021, becoming the first woman to head a DAX40 firm in Germany. A medical doctor by training, she worked in hospitals before joining Abbott and later spent 15 years at Sanofi, including overseeing the integration of Genzyme. She also serves on the boards of BBVA and previously L'Oréal. The company said her priorities will focus on strengthening productivity, governance, and research capabilities as it advances an immune-system-focused medicines and vaccines pipeline.