French pharma giant Sanofi has appointed Paul Hudson as chief executive to replace Olivier Brandicourt, who will retire in September, the company said on Friday.

Novartis, which is a Swiss company, employs approximately 1,200 people across two locations in Cork and Dublin. Its manufacturing and development is based in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

Sanofi also has an Irish operation. Its manufacturing campus in Waterford has more than 740 skilled people working across multiple products and platforms, supplying therapies to people in over 70 countries.

Mr Hudson, a top executive at Sanofi’s Swiss rival Novartis, will take his new job on September 1st, the French company said, confirming a Reuters report published on Thursday.

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Solid

“Hudson has been chosen because of his reputation. He is known as a solid manager and has digital expertise relating to pharmaceuticals,” a Sanofi source said on Thursday.

Mr Hudson (51) has been CEO of the Novartis Pharmaceuticals unit since 2016 after holding positions at Schering Plough and AstraZeneca. He is a member of the Novartis executive committee.

Novartis named Marie-France Tschudin head of its main drugs business to replace Mr Hudson.

– Reuters