Novo Nordisk appoints new chief executive as pharma giant restructures R&D operations
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has appointed Maziar Mike Doustdar as chief executive officer, bringing his proven track record of doubling international sales over the past decade. The leadership transition coincides with strategic R&D consolidation as the company positions itself to address rapidly developing diabetes and obesity markets.
Novo Nordisk has appointed Maziar Mike Doustdar as president and chief executive officer, effective 7 August 2025, succeeding Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen in a strategic leadership transition announced by the Danish pharmaceutical company.
Doustdar, currently executive vice president of International Operations, brings extensive commercial expertise to the role, having doubled international sales to approximately DKK 112 billion (about US$17,4 billion) during his decade-long tenure. His leadership en-compasses all Novo Nordisk affiliates outside the United States, managing operations across 80 countries and nearly 20,000 employees.
Strategic R&D consolidation accompanies leadership change
The appointment coincides with significant organisational restructuring, including the merger of Research & Early Development with the Development division into a unified R&D unit. Martin Holst Lange, currently executive vice president of Development, will assume the newly created position of chief scientific officer, leading the consolidated research operations.
This structural change follows the retirement of Marcus Schindler, executive vice president of Research & Early Development, who joined the company in 2018 and served as chief scientific officer since 2021. Schindler’s tenure focused on external innovation and early-stage scientific discovery programmes. Chair Helge Lund emphasised the appointment’s strategic timing: “Mike is an exceptional leader and has the unanimous support of the Board. We are confident that he is the best person to lead Novo Nordisk through its next growth phase.”
International operations expertise drives appointment
Doustdar’s career trajectory within Novo Nordisk spans multiple commercial leadership roles, including senior vice president positions across Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Middle East regions. His appointment followed a comprehensive selection process evaluating both external and internal candidates, receiving full endorsement from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
“It’s an enormous privilege to lead this company at a time of tremendous opportunity and change,” Doustdar commented.
“I come to this role with a sense of urgency, a laser focus on high performance, and a fierce determination for Novo Nordisk to aim higher than it’s ever done.”
Executive management restructured for growth phase
Emil Kongshøj Larsen, currently senior vice president of the Europe and Canada region, will succeed Doustdar as executive vice president of International Operations. Larsen’s regional responsibilities encompass 40 countries, representing approximately 20% of global sales.
Maziar Mike Doustdar, newly appointed chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk
