Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has announced the appointment of Cristian Massacesi, M.D., as the new Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Development, effective August 1, 2025. Dr. Massacesi will be joining the company to oversee its early-stage and late-stage product development across all therapeutic areas. His appointment comes as Samit Hirawat, M.D., Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Development for the past six years, is set to step down from his role on August 1, 2025, and will depart Bristol Myers Squibb on November 1, 2025.
Dr. Massacesi brings with him over 20 years of global biopharmaceutical experience, having most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of AstraZeneca and Alexion, and as the Oncology Chief Development Officer at AstraZeneca. His leadership at AstraZeneca saw the advancement of over 150 clinical studies and secured multiple regulatory approvals. Prior to this, he held senior R&D positions at Pfizer and Novartis, overseeing development programs across solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Under the leadership of Dr. Hirawat, Bristol Myers Squibb advanced groundbreaking science that led to the approval of new products across oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, and neuroscience. Dr. Hirawat's commitment and visionary approach have been attributed to driving progress and positioning the company at the forefront of impactful medical innovation.
In a statement, Christopher Boerner, Ph.D., Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Myers Squibb, expressed the company's excitement in welcoming Dr. Massacesi. Dr. Boerner highlighted Dr. Massacesi's deep scientific expertise, strong focus on clinical execution, and proven track record of regulatory approvals, which are expected to be instrumental as the company continues to advance its pipeline and deliver breakthrough medicines to patients worldwide.
Dr. Massacesi will be based in Princeton, New Jersey, and will report directly to Christopher Boerner. Bristol Myers Squibb, with its mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases, is looking forward to Dr. Massacesi's leadership in advancing its pipeline and making a difference in the field of medicine. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares -1.04% to a price of $48.43. For the full picture, make sure to review BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO's 8-K report.
