After a comprehensive internal and external selection process, Pfizer Inc. has appointed Chris Boshoff, M.D., PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development effective January 1, 2025.
 
Dr. Boshoff, who most recently served as Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, will succeed Dr. Mikael Dolsten. In his new role, Boshoff will remain a member of Pfizer’s Executive Leadership Team, reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Albert Bourla, and will oversee all functions of Research & Development across all therapeutic areas.
 
Pfizer’s Oncology R&D organization will maintain its fully integrated structure with Roger Dansey, M.D. serving as Interim Chief Oncology Officer, reporting to Boshoff effective January 1, 2025. Dansey will assist Boshoff in selecting a permanent Chief Oncology Officer, after which time he will retire from Pfizer. He will also facilitate a smooth transition of his current responsibilities to his successor, Johanna Bendell, M.D., who will be joining Pfizer from Roche in 2025 as Chief Development Officer, Oncology.
 
“Dr. Boshoff is the ideal leader to propel Pfizer’s R&D engine forward and transform it into a world-leading organization with a more focused strategy, driving the delivery of additional impactful breakthrough medicines with blockbuster potential,” said Dr. Bourla, Chairman and CEO. “Chris has a compelling vision for the future of R&D at Pfizer and deep knowledge of our entire pipeline and R&D organization that positions him well to succeed. He has an impressive record of building strong teams and delivering numerous breakthrough medicines. Under Chris’ leadership, Oncology has become one of Pfizer’s most productive divisions and his continued supervision will ensure that we achieve our goal of being a global leader in oncology and other core therapeutic areas.”

Experience 

During his more than 11 years at Pfizer, Boshoff has delivered 24 approved innovative medicines and biosimilars in more than 30 indications. Before becoming Chief Oncology Officer, he served as Chief Development Officer for Oncology and Rare Disease, and he also previously served as Head of Development Japan across all therapeutic areas.
 
Before assuming leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry, Boshoff served as founding Director of the University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute.
 
He earned his medical degree from University of Pretoria in South Africa, a doctorate Ph.D. from the Institute of Cancer Research in London and trained as a medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden and Royal Free Hospitals in London. He is an elected Fellow of the U.K. Academy of Medical Sciences.
 
“I am honored to be succeeding Mikael and to be taking on leadership of a combined R&D organization that includes world-class talent and capabilities, industry leading success rates and cycle times, and a promising pipeline of innovative medicines and vaccines candidates poised to have a tremendous impact for patients globally,” said Boshoff. “I look forward to working even more closely with Albert, our executive leadership team, and our entire R&D organization to take Pfizer’s pipeline and productivity to the next level. I am confident that we can build on our long history of successes and drive even deeper focus on advancing the most impactful programs in areas of high unmet medical need that will have a meaningful impact on patients worldwide.”