GSK exec named as Takeda CEO candidate

Takeda has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Christophe Weber to become its Chief Operating Officer (COO) and candidate for its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Weber is currently President & General Manager at GSK Vaccines, CEO of GSK Biologicals SA in Belgium and member of the GSK global Corporate Executive Team.

"We have extremely high expectations for Mr. Weber's contributions to further enhance and accelerate the implementation of Takeda's global strategy based on his extraordinary and broad business experiences including an impressive track record in top global pharmaceutical companies,"

Yasuchika Hasegawa, current President & CEO of Takeda.

Weber will join Takeda to take the role of COO by April 2014 and is expected to also become President and Representative Director upon approval at Takeda's Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and Board of Directors Meeting at the end of June 2014. At the same time in June, current Takeda President & CEO, Yasuchika Hasegawa, is expected to be named Chairman and CEO.

Takeda's primary strategic management goal for the coming years is to transform Takeda into a company that is competitive on a global basis in every aspect of its business and organization.