West Pharmaceutical Services named Michel Lagarde as its next president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 31, 2026, replacing Eric M. Green, who will retire that day from his roles as president, CEO and board chair.
The company also said board lead independent director Robert F. Friel will become board chair on Aug. 31.
Lagarde comes to West from Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he was executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing most of the company’s businesses. He joined Thermo Fisher in 2017 after its acquisition of Patheon, where he had been senior vice president and president of pharma services. Before that, he was president and COO of Patheon from 2016 to 2017 and managing director at JLL Partners from 2008 to 2016. Earlier in his career, he spent 12 years at Philips in finance roles across international markets.
West said Lagarde joined the board of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2023 and serves as chair of its audit and finance committee.
The leadership change comes after a fiscal 2025 in which West generated $3.07 billion in net sales. The company said it employs more than 10,000 people across 50 sites, including 26 manufacturing facilities, and delivers more than 41 billion components and devices each year. Today the company's shares have moved -2.76% to a price of $313.91. For the full picture, make sure to review WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC's 8-K report.
