Pascal Soriot

Pascal Claude Roland Soriot, a French-born Australian businessman and CEO of AstraZeneca, was born on May 23, 1959 in France. He studied veterinary medicine and later obtained an MBA.

In April 1986, Pascal Soriot joined Roussel Uclaf as a salesman in Australia. Roussel Uclaf was formerly France's second largest pharmaceutical company.

In 2006, Pascal Soriot joined Roche as head of marketing. He later held various positions within the company, including chief operating officer of Roche Pharma AG.

Before joining AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Genentech, where he successfully oversees the merger between the biologics business and Roche. This strategic move contributes to his reputation in the industry.

In 2010, Pascal Soriot takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Roche AG's pharmaceuticals division before joining AstraZeneca. He plays a key role in the company's operations and management.

In October 2012, Pascal Soriot assumed the role of CEO at AstraZeneca.

In 2014, Pfizer launched a takeover bid on AstraZeneca, which was met with opposition from AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot who argued that the deal would lead to delays in life-saving drugs, causing deaths. This move angered Pfizer executives who viewed it as a political tactic.

In 2015, Pascal Soriot implemented a restructuring at AstraZeneca, which involved job cuts and closure of a historic R&D base. He also outlined a vision for a risk-taking, science-focused strategy to rejuvenate the company.

In July 2017, reports surfaced that Soriot would become the next CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, but the news was later denied.

In September 2018, Pascal Soriot made headlines by commenting on his salary of £9.4m, stating that he was the lowest-paid CEO in the industry, despite earning a substantial amount.

In 2021, 60.19% of investors approved AstraZeneca CEO Soriot's proposed pay package for the year despite opposition from ISS, Glass Lewis, and other advisers who considered the bonuses and equity excessive.

In 2022, Pascal Soriot was knighted for his services to UK life sciences and the response to COVID-19, qualifying for a substantive knighthood due to being an Australian citizen.

Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, leads the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health System Task Force to decarbonize the global healthcare system by setting minimum sustainability targets for suppliers in 2023.

Pascal Soriot is appointed as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca. He has a background in pharmaceutical companies like Roche/Genentech and Aventis/Sanofi Aventis, with experience in various leadership roles.