4th Dec 2024 21:37
(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Wednesday appointed Iskra Reic as its new international executive vice president, replacing Leon Wang, who has been detained by Chinese authorities.
The Cambridge-based pharmaceuticals company said Reic will oversee multiple regions, including Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and take over responsibility for the group's Chinese entity from Wang.
Chinese officials are investigating a number of current and former AstraZeneca employees over potential illegal data collection on drug imports, the company said last month.
Wang, who headed AstraZeneca China, is on extended leave from the company while the investigation in China continues, the company said in Wednesday's statement.
Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said: "Iskra is a highly accomplished leader with extensive international experience across multiple disciplines and a track record of improving patient access to our innovative and life-changing medicines."
Reic joined the company in 2001, and has held leadership positions across Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Middle East & Africa. Most recently, she launched the company's Vaccines and Immune Therapies unit.
The firm added that it had no new information about Wang, except that he remains under detention.
In November, the company said it took China's investigations "very seriously" and assured that it "has not received any notification that it is itself under investigation".
Shares in AstraZeneca closed 3.0% lower at 10,474.00 pence each in London on Wednesday.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.