As part of the reorganization, David Shedlarz, vice chairman, will become principle deputy to Mr Kindler with expanded responsibilities including Pfizer global manufacturing, and worldwide strategic planning, licensing and business development and technology. Meanwhile, Karen Katen, vice chairman of the company and head of the company’s pharmaceutical division, will be leaving the company in the next few months.
Both Mr Shedlarz and Ms Katen competed with Mr Kindler in the company’s recent leadership contest. Mr Kindler was eventually chosen to succeed the retiring CEO Hank McKinnell and was confirmed in the role at the end of July.
“Science is creating wholly new ways to treat disease; regulators and payers are more demanding; and patients and their families are using newly available information to take more control over their healthcare decisions,” said Mr Kindler, who added that Pfizer must “become more agile and entrepreneurial, embracing the spirit of a small company while exploiting the advantages of our unmatched scale and reach.”