AstraZeneca Pharma India names Praveen Rao Akkinepally as new MD, succeeding Dr Sanjeev Panchal
Bangalore: AstraZeneca Pharma India has announced the appointment of Praveen Rao Akkinepally as the new Managing Director of the company, effective July 1, 2025.
Akkinepally has also been appointed as an Additional Director of the company and will assume charge following the resignation of the current Managing Director, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Panchal.
Dr. Panchal has offered to resign from his role as Managing Director of the company, ipso facto, as a Director of the Company, with effect from the close of business hours on June 30, 2025. He will be transitioning to a global role within the AstraZeneca Group, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, US.
Akkinepally, currently serving as the Oncology Business Unit Head for India, has over 20 years of experience spanning the US, global markets, and India in Oncology and Biopharmaceuticals. As a seasoned commercial leader, he has a proven track record of driving transformative business growth at AstraZeneca, including leading the launch of multiple brands and pioneering global commercialization strategies.
He has been recognised with several AstraZeneca Excellence and CEO Awards. As an Oncology Business Unit Head for India, he has overseen rapid growth, advanced AstraZeneca’s market position, and set new standards for oncology launches, while actively advocating for improved cancer care policy in India.
Further, he has served on the Cancer Round Tables for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) where he has championed key policy priorities to improve cancer care in the country.
AstraZeneca India was established in 1979 and is headquartered at Bengaluru, Karnataka. AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited is the operating company and covers manufacturing, sales and marketing activities of the company in India.
It is a listed company and is a subsidiary of AstraZeneca Plc, UK.
