AstraZeneca, a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business, has appointed Pam P Cheng as executive vice president, operations and IT. Pam will succeed David Smith, who is retiring after nearly ten years with AstraZeneca.

Pam will be responsible for manufacturing operations and supply chain, procurement and information technology globally. In the role she will oversee continued progress in driving efficiency and delivering excellence in these areas.

Pam joins AstraZeneca from Merck/MSD, where she gained extensive experience in pharmaceuticals manufacturing and supply chain management. She played a lead role in restructuring and upgrading the company’s manufacturing technology and engineering capabilities as director of global planning and capacity management, and as head of global supply chain management and logistics led the transformation of the company’s supply chains across its global network. Most recently, Pam was chief operating officer and then president of MSD China. Prior to joining Merck, Pam held process engineering roles at Union Carbide and GAF Chemicals.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer, said “I am delighted to welcome Pam to AstraZeneca at a very exciting time for our business. As our pipeline delivers, we will bring an increasing number of new medicines to patients across the globe over the coming years, including important biological therapies as our product mix shifts. Pam will be able to bring to bear her wealth of experience in manufacturing and supply chain management, as well as her experience in emerging markets, particularly China, a key priority for our company.”

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank David Smith for the invaluable contribution he has made to the leadership of AstraZeneca and to streamlining and expanding our global manufacturing footprint. The quality, reliability and cost effectiveness of our supply chain will be his legacy for many years to come.”

Pam will report to Pascal Soriot and will be a member of AstraZeneca’s senior executive team. Pam holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey and an MBA in marketing from Pace University in New York.