Novo Nordisk A/S announced that Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and chief executive officer, will retire from the company by the end of 2016. Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, currently executive vice president and head of Corporate Development, will succeed him, effective 1 January 2017. The company also announced a number of other executive-level changes, effective immediately.

Jakob Riis, currently executive vice president and head of Region China, Pacific & Marketing, is appointed executive vice president and head of North America Operations. He succeeds Jesper Høiland, who steps down from Executive Management and whose future role in Novo Nordisk will be announced at a later date. Maziar Mike Doustdar, currently executive vice president and head of International Operations, continues in this role, but with enlarged responsibility for an expanded International Operations unit, now covering all territories except for North America and organised in the following five regions: Europe; Latin America; Africa, Asia, Middle East & Oceania; Japan & Korea; and Region China.

Jerzy Gruhn, currently executive vice president and head of Europe, steps down from Executive Management and will continue as head of Europe, now as senior vice president, reporting to Maziar Mike Doustdar.