Finance
Factbox-Who Is Sanofi's New CEO Belén Garijo?
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 12, 2026
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Sanofi has appointed Belén Garijo as its new CEO, replacing Paul Hudson. Garijo brings extensive experience from Merck KGaA amidst ongoing market challenges.
Sanofi Appoints Belén Garijo as New CEO Amidst Market Challenges
Overview of Belén Garijo's Appointment
Feb 12 (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi on Thursday appointed Belén Garijo as its new chief executive after choosing not to renew the mandate of Paul Hudson.
Background and Experience
The move underscores rising pressure from U.S. vaccine headwinds and a stalled turnaround since he took the reins in 2019.
Market Reactions
What do we know about Garijo?
Future Prospects for Sanofi
* Garijo, 65, worked for 15 years at Sanofi, where she was vice president of pharmaceutical operations for Europe and Canada and a member of the executive committee, the company said.
* Her work included the integration of Sanofi's rare diseases Genzyme unit in the United States.
* Garijo had been promoted in 2021 from head of pharma unit at German maker of pharmaceuticals and specialty materials Merck KGaA to CEO of the group.
* As Merck KGaA CEO, she has overseen turbulent markets buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategic acquisitions such as SpringWorks Therapeutics and portfolio divestitures.
* Her contract with Merck is ending as planned. Her track record in the company's pharmaceuticals business is mixed. The German company itself suffered numerous setbacks in the development of new drugs during her tenure.
* Garijo was also a board member of French cosmetics giant L'Oreal between 2014 and 2024, and she currently sits on the board of Spanish lender BBVA
* Garijo's experience is broad, yet not especially associated with R&D productivity improvements at large pharma, Berenberg analyst Luisa Hector said.
* "It is fair to say that Belen would not have been on many shortlists as potential successor given at Merck KGaA she arguably never reached the profile of prior executives there", Jefferies said in a note to clients.
* Shares in Sanofi were down almost 3% by around 08:45 GMT on Thursday
(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi in Gdansk; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Key Takeaways
- •Sanofi appoints Belén Garijo as new CEO.
- •Garijo previously held key roles at Merck KGaA.
- •Her experience spans pharmaceuticals and strategic acquisitions.
- •Sanofi faces market challenges and leadership changes.
- •Shares dropped 3% following the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Factbox-Who is Sanofi's new CEO Belén Garijo?
1What is corporate governance?
Corporate governance refers to the systems, principles, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. It involves balancing the interests of stakeholders, including shareholders, management, customers, suppliers, and the community.
2What is market reaction?
Market reaction refers to how investors and traders respond to news or events that affect a company's stock price. This can include buying or selling shares based on perceived value changes.
3What is a board member?
A board member is an individual who sits on a company's board of directors, responsible for overseeing the company's management and making decisions on major company issues.
