Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has announced the appointment of Dr. Cristian Massacesi, M.D., as the company's new Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Development. Dr. Massacesi will begin his role on August 1, 2025, and will be responsible for overseeing both early-stage and late-stage product development across all therapeutic areas. This is a significant change for the company, as Dr. Samit Hirawat, M.D., who has been serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, will be stepping down from his role on August 1, 2025, and departing from Bristol Myers Squibb on November 1, 2025.
Dr. Massacesi brings with him over 20 years of global biopharmaceutical experience, having most recently served as the Chief Medical Officer of AstraZeneca and Alexion, as well as the Oncology Chief Development Officer at AstraZeneca. During his tenure, AstraZeneca advanced over 150 clinical studies and secured multiple regulatory approvals under his leadership. Prior to his roles at AstraZeneca, Dr. Massacesi held senior research and development positions at Pfizer and Novartis, overseeing development programs across solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Bristol Myers Squibb expressed their excitement in welcoming Dr. Massacesi to the company, emphasizing his deep scientific expertise, strong focus on clinical execution, and proven track record of regulatory approvals. They also thanked Dr. Hirawat for his leadership and dedication over the past six years, noting the advancements in groundbreaking science and the approval of many new products across various therapeutic areas during his tenure.
The company's CEO, Christopher Boerner, Ph.D., highlighted Dr. Massacesi's track record of advancing breakthrough science from early through late-stage development and global regulatory approvals, as well as his ability to inspire and encourage teams to identify novel strategies and take smart risks. Dr. Massacesi will be based in Princeton, New Jersey, and will report directly to Christopher Boerner.
This change in leadership comes as Bristol Myers Squibb continues its mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients overcome serious diseases. With the appointment of Dr. Massacesi, the company aims to further advance its pipeline and deliver breakthrough medicines to patients worldwide. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares -1.04% to a price of $48.43. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.
