After almost four years leading Sanofi’s second largest market, China, Pius S. Hornstein moves into a global role to focus on the company’s digital transformation. “In the last 8 years, I have been witnessing the incredible opportunities that digital could unlock …” he said in a LinkedIn post announcing the new position.
… we aim to fulfill the ambition [to] become the best in class digital healthcare platform across the globe …
Already leading digital transformation projects at Sanofi for some time, Hornstein said in a 2019 PharmaBoardroom interview “When I was in Brazil, I created a digital structure for the affiliate separate from Europe – as the first affiliate to do so – and since arriving in China, I did the same.”
On that occasion he also spoke about China’s position within the company’s global digital ambitions: “Our new Chief Digital Officer has outlined a big vision with a global strategy and China is significant enough to move fast within that global framework with some autonomy. We certainly can be the spearhead for global digital innovation in line with global priorities.”
Hornstein will now be making those digital innovation goals a reality on a global level. “ … we aim to fulfill the ambition [to] become the best in class digital healthcare platform across the globe … adding value for the health journeys of patients, by building it stone by stone.”
Sanofi is not alone in recognizing the importance of the pharma industry’s digital transformation. “Industry is on a dedicated and focused journey to leverage data and technology,” said Shobie Ramakrishnan, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at GSK at a recent FT webinar.
Leadership of the Chinese affiliate has been passed over to Wayne Shi, who comes from Organon’s Chinese operation and has also held roles at MSD China and AstraZeneca.
