Sanofi S.A., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Paris, France. In February 2026, Sanofi named Belén Garijo as its next Chief Executive Officer, replacing Paul Hudson after a turbulent period of R&D setbacks. Garijo, a physician by training and former CEO of Merck KGaA, will formally assume the role at Sanofi’s Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026 — making her the first woman to lead the French pharmaceutical giant. She brings deep Sanofi experience, having spent 15 years at the company earlier in her career, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished leaders in the global pharmaceutical industry.
(Suggested: Pfizer CEO Email & Net Worth – Albert Bourla Salary)

Sanofi Competitors
Sanofi operates in the highly competitive global pharmaceutical industry. The key competitors of Sanofi include:
- Pfizer Inc. – Global leader in vaccines, oncology, and immunology
- Novartis AG – Swiss pharma giant with strengths in innovative medicines
- Roche Holding AG – Leader in oncology and diagnostics
- AstraZeneca PLC – Major competitor in oncology and respiratory therapeutics
- AbbVie Inc. – Immunology and oncology powerhouse (Humira, Skyrizi)
- Eli Lilly and Company – Fast-growing pharma leader in diabetes and obesity
- GSK plc – Competitor in vaccines and specialty medicines
- Merck & Co. (MSD) – Major rival in oncology (Keytruda) and vaccines
Belén Garijo – Quick Facts
Belén Garijo Net Worth 2026 – Sanofi CEO Salary
As of 2026, Belén Garijo net worth is estimated at approximately $15–25 million USD, based on her years of senior executive compensation at Merck KGaA and board positions at companies including L’Oréal and BBVA. Her Sanofi compensation package has not yet been publicly disclosed, but is expected to be competitive with other European big pharma CEO packages.
Belén Garijo Compensation at Merck KGaA (FY2024)
Sanofi Net Worth 2026 – Is Sanofi Profitable?
Yes, Sanofi is a highly profitable company. In FY2025, the company posted record revenue driven by its blockbuster immunology drug Dupixent, which now accounts for roughly 30% of total sales.
Sanofi Financial Summary (FY2025)
(Recommended: Novartis CEO Email & Net Worth – Vas Narasimhan Salary)
Sanofi CEO Email Address | Belén Garijo Contact
Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Sanofi CEO Belén Garijo:
Career & Education – Company, University, & College
Belén Garijo’s career spans over four decades in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. A trained physician, she transitioned from clinical practice to pharma R&D and rose through the ranks at some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Below is her complete career timeline:
Belén Garijo Career Timeline
Before becoming Sanofi CEO, Belén Garijo spent six years as a practicing physician at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, specializing in clinical pharmacology. She then transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry, spending approximately eight years at Abbott Laboratories in R&D roles, first as Medical Director of the Spanish affiliate and later leading International Medical Affairs at Abbott’s headquarters in Illinois.
In 1996, she moved to Rhône-Poulenc Rorer as Director of the Oncology Business Unit, which later became Aventis through a merger. She rose to become Global VP of Oncology at Aventis and in 2003 was named General Manager of Aventis Spain, where she played a key role in the landmark Sanofi-Aventis merger in 2004.
(Related: AstraZeneca CEO Email & Net Worth – Pascal Soriot Salary)
Garijo spent a total of 15 years at Sanofi, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Global Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada and leading the integration of Genzyme following Sanofi’s $20 billion acquisition. In 2011, she departed to join Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany), where she rose from COO of Healthcare to President, Executive Board member, and ultimately Chair and CEO in May 2021 — becoming the first woman to solely lead a DAX-40 listed company.
Education

Belén Garijo Wiki – Age, Family, & More
Sanofi CEO Belén Garijo (age 65) was born on July 31, 1960, in Almansa, a small city in the province of Albacete in southeastern Spain. She is married to a urology specialist and has two daughters. She has spoken publicly about balancing her career with family responsibilities, emphasizing that women executives do not need to make an either/or choice between family and career.
Notable Achievements & Recognitions
- First Female DAX-40 CEO – Became the first woman to solely lead a company listed on Germany’s DAX-40 stock index (Merck KGaA, 2021)
- First Female Sanofi CEO – Appointed as the first woman to lead Sanofi in its 52-year history (2026)
- Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women – Ranked on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2023, #68)
- Fortune Most Powerful Women – Ranked #30 on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women International list (2023, 2025)
- L’Oréal Board Member – Served on the board of L’Oréal for 10 years
- BBVA Board Member – Serves as independent director on the board of BBVA, one of Spain’s largest banks
- Genzyme Integration Leader – Led the integration of Genzyme into Sanofi following the $20B acquisition (2011)
- Merck Foundation Chair – Served as Chair of the Merck Foundation, focused on global health access
Garijo is widely recognized as a trailblazer for women in the pharmaceutical industry. Her return to Sanofi after 15 years at Merck KGaA marks an unusual full-circle career trajectory, bringing deep institutional knowledge of the French pharma company alongside global leadership experience.
(Suggested: Eli Lilly CEO Email & Net Worth – Dave Ricks Salary)
About Sanofi
Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1973, the company has grown through major acquisitions (Aventis in 2004, Genzyme in 2011) to become one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue. Sanofi operates across several key therapeutic areas:
Sanofi trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker SNY and on Euronext Paris under SAN. The company employs approximately 95,400 people across more than 100 countries worldwide. Its flagship product Dupixent, developed in partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is projected to become one of the best-selling drugs in pharmaceutical history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of Sanofi?
As of February 2026, Belén Garijo has been named CEO of Sanofi, replacing Paul Hudson. She will formally assume the role at Sanofi’s Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026. Olivier Charmeil is serving as interim CEO during the transition. Garijo is the first woman to lead Sanofi.
What is Belén Garijo’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Belén Garijo’s net worth is estimated at $15–25 million USD, based on her years of executive compensation at Merck KGaA and board positions at L’Oréal and BBVA.
What is Sanofi CEO’s salary?
Garijo’s Sanofi compensation has not yet been publicly disclosed. At Merck KGaA, her total compensation was approximately €6.7 million in FY2024. Her predecessor Paul Hudson earned approximately €10 million in his final year at Sanofi.
What is Sanofi CEO’s email address?
Sanofi CEO Belén Garijo’s email address is [email protected]. She can also be reached via LinkedIn. For press inquiries, contact Sanofi at +33 1 53 77 40 00.
Why was Paul Hudson replaced as Sanofi CEO?
Paul Hudson was removed as Sanofi CEO on February 12, 2026, after multiple late-stage clinical trial failures in 2025 (including amlitelimab and itepekimab) and a significant stock price decline. The board sought fresh leadership to strengthen R&D execution and deliver on Sanofi’s post-Dupixent pipeline strategy.
Is Sanofi a profitable company?
Yes, Sanofi is highly profitable. In FY2025, the company reported net income of €7.8 billion, a 40.5% increase year-over-year, driven by record Dupixent sales of over €16 billion. Revenue reached €46.7 billion with strong free cash flow of €8.1 billion.
Article last updated:January 2026March 2, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.