Overview
Members of our Board of Directors are appointed for a maximum term of four years - reappointment of Directors is done on a rotation basis.
The Board of Directors defines the strategic business guidelines and directions of the Company, and supervises their implementation. Subject to the powers expressly attributed to the Shareholders’ General Meeting, and within the scope of the company’s corporate purpose, the Board of Directors’ powers cover all issues relating to the proper management of the company and through its decisions the Board determines all matters falling within its authority.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors, appointed by the shareholders, is composed of 16 members, two of whom are employee representatives.

Frédéric Oudéa
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Term expires 2027

Paul Hudson
Chief Executive Officer
Term expires 2026

Christophe Babule
Director
Term expires 2026

Rachel Duan
Independent director
Term expires 2024

Carole Ferrand
Independent director
Term expires 2025

Lise Kingo
Independent director
Term expires 2024

Patrick Kron
Independent director
Term expires 2026

Wolfgang Laux
Director representing employees (designated by the European Works Council)
Term expires 2025

Barbara Lavernos
Director
Term expires 2025

Fabienne Lecorvaisier
Independent director
Term expires 2025

Gilles Schnepp
Independent director
Term expires 2026

Diane Souza
Independent director
Term expires 2024

Thomas Südhof
Independent director
Term expires 2024

Ceng-Yann Tran
Director representing employees
Term expires 2025

Emile Voest
Independent director
Term expires 2025

Antoine Yver
Independent director
Term expires 2025
Board Diversity
Each year, the Board of Directors conducts a review to ensure that there is an appropriate balance in its composition. In particular, the Board seeks to ensure gender balance and a broad diversity of backgrounds and countries of origin, international experience, reflecting Sanofi’s status as a diversified global business.
Women represent 43% of members. 7 Directors are non-French. Above all, the Board seeks directors who show independence of mind and who are competent, dedicated and committed.
Independence of Board Members
Under the terms of the AFEP-MEDEF corporate governance code of listed corporations, a Director is independent when he or she has no relation of any kind whatsoever with the company, its group or its management that may interfere with his or her freedom of judgement.
79% of members are independent (according to French Law, Directors representing employees are excluded when calculating the proportion of independent Directors).
Summary table
Director | Age | Nationality | First Appointed | Term expires | Seniority | AC | AGC | CC | SC | SciC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frédéric Oudéa Chairman of the Board of Directors | 60 | French | May 2023 | General Meeting 2027 | <1 | X | C | X | ||
Paul Hudson Chief Executive Officer | 55 | British | September 2019 | General Meeting 2026 | 4 | X | ||||
Christophe Babule Director | 58 | French | February 2019 | General Meeting 2026 | 4 | X | ||||
Rachel Duan Independent director | 53 | Chinese | April 2020 | General Meeting 2024 | 3 | X | ||||
Carole Ferrand Independent director | 53 | French | May 2022 | General Meeting 2025 | 1 | X | ||||
Lise Kingo Independent director | 62 | Danish | April 2020 | General Meeting 2024 | 3 | X | ||||
Patrick Kron Independent director | 69 | French | May 2014 | General Meeting 2026 | 9 | X | C | X | ||
Wolfgang Laux Director representing employees (designated by the European Works Council) | 55 | German | April 2021 | General Meeting 2025 | 2 | X | ||||
Barbara Lavernos Director | 55 | French | April 2021 | General Meeting 2025 | 2 | X | X | |||
Fabienne Lecorvaisier Independent director | 61 | French | May 2013 | General Meeting 2025 | 10 | C | ||||
Gilles Schnepp Independent director | 64 | French | May 2020 | General Meeting 2026 | 3 | C | X | |||
Diane Souza Independent director | 71 | American | May 2016 | General Meeting 2024 | 7 | X | X | |||
Thomas Südhof Independent director | 67 | German and American | May 2016 | General Meeting 2024 | 7 | C | ||||
Ceng-Yann Tran Director representing employees | 57 | French | May 2021 | General Meeting 2025 | 2 | |||||
Emile Voest Independent director | 64 | Dutch | May 2022 | General Meeting 2025 | 1 | X | ||||
Antoine Yver Independent director | 65 | French, American, Swiss | May 2022 | General Meeting 2025 | 1 | X |
AC: Audit Committee
AGC: Appointments, Governance and CSR Committee
CC: Compensation Committee
SC: Strategy Committee
SciC: Scientific Committee
C: Chairman/Chairwoman