Roche and Genentech announce new organisational structure

From 1 May, Arthur D Levinson, currently Genentech chairman and chief executive, will chair Genentech's new board of directors and steer the integration of Genentech and Roche.

Levinson will also advise Genentech's research and early development centre and join the Scientific Resource Board (SRB), Genentech's external advisory group.

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, currently president of Genentech product development, will continue to support the integration planning and the handover of her current responsibilities until June. Thereafter she will contribute to Genentech in an advisory role and join the Genentech SRB.

Richard Scheller, currently EVP Genentech research will lead Genentech's r&d centre.

Marc Tessier-Lavigne, currently EVP Genentech research drug discovery, will succeed Scheller. He will also become Genentech's chief scientific officer.

Pascal Soriot will become chief executive of Genentech and lead all pharma activities in the US.

George Abercrombie, chief executive and president of Hoffmann-La Roche, has agreed to support the integration through to the end of 2009.

Levinson and Soriot will lead the operational integration team to design the future set-up of the combined company. The integration plans will be finalised by June, with the goal to have the integration completed by the end of 2009.

Following integration, Soriot will resume his current responsibilities as head of global pharma commercial operations as a member of the corporate executive committee.

"Roche and Genentech have always shared a focus on scientific discovery and a commitment to achieving medical breakthroughs that can enhance and even save lives. The companies" efficient and strategic integration of its personnel and operations reflects these shared values, and I am confident that our combined organisation will be even more capable of delivering significant achievements," said Levinson.

Roche

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