GlaxoSmithKline's head of international pharmaceutical operations, Howard Pien, is to leave the company to become Chief Executive of Chiron.

Mr Pien's departure for the Californian company represents the latest in a series of departures from the Anglo-American company's top executives, and has forced another re-shuffle.

The departure last year of four senior R&D executives including the defection of James Palmer, Head of New Product Development, Research & Development, to rivals Bristol-Myers Squibb fuelled speculation that the mood in the company was not good, and that a post-merger re-organisation was not paying dividends.

But a marked upturn in new chemical entities coming through the pipeline has buoyed the company somewhat in the eyes of investors.

Mr Pien will be succeeded by Russell Grieg, currently Senior VP, Worldwide Business Development for R&D. Grieg will be based in London, and will report to David Stout, President, Pharmaceutical Operations.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Mark Dunoyer has been promoted to President of the company pharmaceutical operations.

pharmafocus@pharmafile.co.uk