AstraZeneca Plc has announced the appointment of Louis Schweitzer, presently chairman and CEO of Renault, as a non-executive director. It is planned that he will be appointed as non-executive chairman later this year. Percy Barnevik will then retire from the Board as chairman and a director.
Chief executive, Sir Tom McKillop is due to retire in March 2005 when he is 62. The Board has asked Sir Tom to extend his term as Chief Executive beyond that and he has confirmed his willingness to do so.
Karl von der Heyden, currently non-executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, intends to retire at the Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2004 after more than five years as a director. It is planned that John Buchanan, non-executive director, will take over as chairman of the Audit Committee.
Percy Barnevik, chairman, said "After five years as chairman, I have informed the Board that I wish to step down. I am delighted that Louis Schweitzer has joined the Board as a non-executive director, with a view to his subsequently becoming chairman later this year when he has had the opportunity to get to know the Company. He has great industrial and international experience and will be a considerable addition to the Board. I am also very pleased that we have Tom McKillop's agreement to continue as chief executive and that he will be available to lead AstraZeneca through the current exciting phase of its development. Finally the Board expresses its gratitude to Karl von der Heyden for his contribution over the last five years and the important role he has played in development of the work of the Audit Committee."
All directors (including Louis Schweitzer), with the exception of Karl von der Heyden, will be presenting themselves for election, in accordance with AstraZeneca's normal practice, at the Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2004.