Sanofi appointed Paulo Fontoura as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research & Development Pharma. The appointment becomes effective September 1, 2026. Fontoura will join Sanofi’s Executive Committee, succeeding Dr. Houman Ashrafian.
Fontoura joins the company from Xaira Therapeutics. He previously spent over 15 years in senior leadership roles at Roche. He will now oversee Sanofi’s entire innovation engine, including research, translational medicine, clinical development, and regulatory affairs.
The appointment supports Sanofi’s ongoing R&D transformation and pipeline enhancement. Fontoura will focus on accelerating the delivery of new medicines to patients worldwide. His experience is expected to bolster Sanofi’s leadership in immunology and other high-need medical areas.