Changes to the Roche Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee
Roche announced that William Pao, Head of Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) since 2018, will leave the company effective 18 March 2022. He will be succeeded by Hans Clevers, a current board member, who will also join the Corporate Executive Committee. CEO Severin Schwan expressed confidence in Clevers' leadership, highlighting Pao's contributions to diversifying Roche's R&D portfolio. Hans Clevers, a notable figure in molecular genetics, brings extensive scientific expertise to his new role, suggesting a continued commitment to advancing personalized healthcare.
- Hans Clevers appointed as new Head of pRED, expected to bring fresh leadership and scientific expertise.
- William Pao acknowledged for significantly strengthening Roche's R&D portfolio.
- Roche's ongoing commitment to translating science into medicines for patients.
- Transition in leadership may create temporary disruption in ongoing projects.
- Departure of William Pao raises concerns about continuity in pRED leadership.
Basel, 1 February 2022
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that William Pao (1967), M.D., Ph.D., and Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) since 2018, has decided to leave Roche for a new opportunity and return to the United States, effective 18 March 2022. Johannes (Hans) Clevers (1957), M.D., Ph.D., who joined the Board of Directors in 2019, will step down from this position and be appointed the new Head of Roche pRED effective 18 March 2022. Hans Clevers will become a member of the enlarged Corporate Executive Committee and will be based in Basel. A successor to Hans Clevers’ board position will be identified and announced at a later date.
Roche’s CEO Severin Schwan commented: “Having had the opportunity to work closely with Hans Clevers as a member of the Roche Board, I could not be more pleased to have him as the new leader for pRED. His outstanding scientific credentials, collaborative and pragmatic style, and excellent leadership will enable our continued success and strong momentum towards translating science into medicines for patients around the world in the years ahead.” Schwan further said: “William Pao has been instrumental in the transformation of our pRED organization and has significantly strengthened and diversified our research and development portfolio. My sincerest gratitude goes to him for all that he has contributed to Roche and for patients. I wish him only continued success for the future.”
William Pao joined Roche in 2014 and stepped into his current role in 2018. He is an American citizen, earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard, and his M.D. and Ph.D. from Yale University. Following his residency training in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical School, he completed his medical oncology and postdoctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prior to becoming a member of the MSKCC faculty. Before joining Roche, he simultaneously held key positions of Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University, and Director of Personalized Cancer Medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He was inducted into the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2011 and the Association of American Physicians in 2017.
Hans Clevers is Dutch and has his MS in Biology, M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. He currently holds the posts of Professor in Molecular Genetics at University Utrecht, Principal Investigator at Hubrecht Institute as well as the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology and Oncode Investigator. In addition, he serves on several scientific advisory boards including the Francis Crick Institute, and is a co-founder of several companies across the world. He is the recipient of multiple international awards and is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Science in the United States, Academy of Science in France, and The Royal Society in the UK.
About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, as well as growing capabilities in the area of data-driven medical insights help Roche deliver truly personalised healthcare. Roche is working with partners across the healthcare sector to provide the best care for each person.
Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. In recent years, the company has invested in genomic profiling and real-world data partnerships and has become an industry-leading partner for medical insights.
Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the thirteenth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the pharmaceutical industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.
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