Astellas Pharma Inc. announced a number of changes to its management structure effective April 1, 2025.
To promote drug discovery activities swiftly and efficiently from the early stages of research through to commercialization with patient-centric approach, Astellas will change its management structure effective April 1, 2025, establishing new top management positions and making personnel changes as follows.
- Establishment and Appointment of Chief Research & Development Officer (CRDO)
As an innovation engine, we will integrate the research and development teams, and the Primary Focus Leads to provide the next-generation groundbreaking therapies from Astellas. Effective April 1, 2025, we will establish the position of CRDO, overseeing these divisions, with Tadaaki Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D., the current Chief Medical Officer (CMO), appointed to this role.
- Establishment and Appointment of Chief Commercial & Medical Affairs Officer (CCMAO)
To build customer engagement that leads the pharmaceutical industry, we will integrate the current Commercial and Medical Affairs functions while maintaining the independence of each function. Effective April 1, 2025, we will establish the position of CCMAO, overseeing these divisions, with Claus Zieler, the current Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), appointed to this role.
With this change in management structure, the roles of CMO, CCO, and Chief Scientific Officer (CScO) will be eliminated. Yoshitsugu Shitaka, Ph.D., the current CScO, will resign effective March 31, 2025.
- Appointment of Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMfgO)
Rao V. Mantri, Ph.D. will be appointed to the new CMfgO, as of April 1, 2025. He joined Astellas on February 3, 2025, and has extensive experience in a global pharmaceutical company, focusing on innovation in product development, manufacturing, and supply, as well as being involved in management. Hideki Shima, the current CMfgO, will resign effective March 31, 2025.
- Establishment and Appointment of General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (GC & CECO)
We will consolidate legal, intellectual property, quality assurance, and ethics & compliance into a single top management position as an important risk management function. Effective April 1, 2025, we will establish the position of GC & CECO, with Tatjana Dragovic appointed to this role. Since joining Astellas in 2007, she has held leadership roles in legal and ethics & compliance. Catherine Levitt, the current GC, will resign effective March 31, 2025.
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