AstraZeneca chief financial officer Simon Lowth will leave the UK's second-biggest drugmaker at the end of October to join natural-gas producer BG Group as CFO.

A search for Mr Lowth’s successor was under way, London- based AstraZeneca said. BG Group said the effective date of his appointment remained to be confirmed.

Mr Lowth (51) joined AstraZeneca in 2007 from Scottish Power and consulting firm McKinsey. He steered the company on an interim basis after last year's departure of chief executive David Brennan. Pascal Soriot, a former Roche executive, was chosen in August to replace Mr Brennan and Mr Lowth returned to the CFO role.

AstraZeneca fell 0.2 per cent to 3,262 pence at the close yesterday in London. The stock has gained 17 per cent this year. – (Bloomberg)