By Colin Kellaher


Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. on Monday said it named Richard Francis as president and chief executive, effective Jan. 1.

The Israeli drugmaker said Kare Schultz, who took the helm in 2017 amid falling profits, a large debt load and a declining share price, would retire at the end of the year.

Mr. Schultz earlier this month said he planned to step down when his contract expires in November 2023, but the company on Monday said he agreed to leave early to help facilitate an orderly transition.

Teva said Mr. Francis, 54 years old, currently serves as an operating partner for life-sciences investor Syncona Investment Management Ltd. and CEO of Syncona portfolio companies Purespring Therapeutics and Forcefield Therapeutics.

He previously spent five years as CEO of Novartis AG's Sandoz generics and biosimilars division and 13 years as a senior executive at Biogen Inc.

Teva said Mr. Francis would receive an annual base salary of $1.6 million and an annual bonus with a target of 150% of his base pay under his initial three-year employment agreement.


--Jared S. Hopkins contributed to this article.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-21-22 0743ET