Sanofi Appoints CEO

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as chief executive officer of Genzyme, a Sanofi company, effective November 1, 2011. He will report to Christopher A. Viehbacher, chief executive officer of Sanofi, and will join the Group Management Committee. Christopher A. Viehbacher will retain the position of chairman, Genzyme.

“After working closely with David over the past six months, I am confident that he is the best person to lead Genzyme,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, chief executive officer of Sanofi. “David’s commitment to employees, physicians and patients has been a key success factor in the successful integration of Genzyme as part of the Sanofi Group. His combination of medical and business experience will be essential to move Genzyme’s broad portfolio of products forward and deliver much-needed therapies to patients.”

Under Mr. Meeker’s leadership, Genzyme will incorporate the Rare Disease business and the Multiple Sclerosis franchise. Previous Genzyme divisions, Renal, Biosurgery and Oncology, have been integrated within the existing Sanofi portfolio to give them greater global scale and capabilities.

Mr. Meeker joined Genzyme in 1994 as medical director on the Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy program. Over the years he has held key positions of increasing responsibility and led the development of treatments in the current rare disease portfolio. As president of the Global Rare Disease Business, he oversaw the global launches of Aldurazyme, Fabrazyme and Myozyme.