Novo Nordisk Appoints Mike Doustdar as New CEO Amid Executive Reshuffle
Delhi: Global healthcare major Novo Nordisk has announced the appointment of Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 7 August 2025. The move comes as part of a broader leadership transition, with current CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen stepping down after an impactful 34-year tenure at the company.
Mike Doustdar currently serves as Executive Vice President of International Operations at Novo Nordisk and has been instrumental in driving significant growth across international markets. Under his leadership, the company’s international operations more than doubled sales to DKK 112 billion in 2024, covering all regions outside the U.S. and employing nearly 20,000 people.
The decision follows a comprehensive selection process that evaluated both internal and external candidates. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has fully endorsed the Board’s appointment of Doustdar.
Chairman Helge Lund praised the incoming CEO, stating, “Mike is an exceptional leader and has the unanimous support of the Board. We are confident that he is the best person to lead Novo Nordisk through its next growth phase.” Lund added that Doustdar’s proven track record of strong commercial execution and his ability to build high-performing teams will be crucial in steering the company through evolving market dynamics.
Expressing gratitude for his new role, Mike Doustdar said, “It’s an enormous privilege to lead this company at a time of tremendous opportunity and change. I come to this role with a sense of urgency, a laser focus on high performance, and a fierce determination for Novo Nordisk to aim higher than it’s ever done.”
Major R&D Overhaul and Other Key Appointments
In a related move, Novo Nordisk announced the merger of its Research & Early Development and Development divisions into a single, unified R&D unit. Martin Holst Lange, MD, PhD, will take over as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) from 7 August 2025. He currently serves as EVP, Development.
Outgoing CSO Marcus Schindler will retire but remain temporarily to support the transition. Chair Helge Lund acknowledged his contributions: “We thank Marcus for his deep commitment to Novo Nordisk and its pursuit of scientific excellence.”
The company also appointed Emil Kongshøj Larsen, currently SVP for Europe and Canada (EUCAN), as the new Executive Vice President of International Operations, replacing Mike Doustdar. Larsen has previously led several business areas across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and currently manages a region accounting for around 20% of global sales.
Revised Executive Team Line-Up
With these transitions, Novo Nordisk’s Executive Management team, effective 7 August, will include:
Maziar Mike Doustdar, President and CEO
Martin Holst Lange, EVP & CSO – Research & Development
Emil Kongshøj Larsen, EVP – International Operations
Karsten Munk Knudsen, CFO
David Moore, EVP – U.S. Operations
Thilde Hummel Bøgebjerg, EVP – Quality, IT & Environmental Affairs
Tania Sabroe, EVP – People, Organisation & Corporate Affairs
Ludovic Helfgott, EVP – Product & Portfolio Strategy
Henrik Wulff, EVP – CMC & Product Supply
