Australia hosts meeting of global leadership team

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A unique event in the history of Australia's pharmaceutical industry with one large company's entire global leadership team in Sydney for a strategic meeting.

AstraZeneca's global Senior Executive Team led by CEO Pascal Soriot are holding a strategic meeting in Sydney this week.

It may be one of the only times, and potentially the only time, the entire global leadership of a major pharmaceutical company has met in Australia.

"We are excited that the SET are here in Australia, for first time in company’s history," said managing director of the company's business in Australia and New Zealand, Liz Chatwin.

"We are excited to showcase our contribution to the Australian economy with our significant manufacturing investment and global export revenue of more than $640 million in 2019, our investment in clinical trials and the scientific collaborations we have with world class institutes in Australia.

"While AZ has been declining in the Australian pharma sector for several years, as the 11th largest country in revenue for the company, we are keen to show how we are working to bring our pipeline of innovative medicines to patients in Australia and the future potential of our business in this country.

"We will be introducing our senior executive team to our 1,000 employees in Australia and will also be meeting with several external experts and one research institute."

The company maintains one of the largest Australian-based pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. 

In 2017, Mr Soriot announced the company would invest an additional $100 million in the facility to expand its capacity to manufacture Pulmicort Respules.

The AstraZeneca CEO has special ties to Australia. Mr Soriot is not technically Australian but does have close family connections and an obvious affinity with the country. 

His global Senior Executive Team also includes chief financial officer Marc Dunoyer, chief compliance officer Katarina Ageborg, chief medical officer Sean Bohen, the heads of commercial biopharmaceuticals Ruud Dobber, commercial oncology David Fredrickson, R&D Mene Pangalos, Europe Iskra Reic, international Leon Wang, human resources Fiona Cicconi, general counsel Jeff Pott and global manufacturing Pam Cheng.