Cipla names Samina Vaziralli as Executive Vice-Chairman

In a major top management rejig, pharma major Cipla today named Samina Vaziralli as Executive Vice-Chairman and Umang Vohra as the Managing Director and Global CEO with effect from September 1, 2016.
Vaziralli, daughter of MK Hamied -- the company's non-executive Vice-Chairman -- has been a part of the core leadership team since joining the Mumbai-based firm in 2011.
"Samina Vaziralli, Executive Director and the Global Head - Strategy, M&A and Cipla New Ventures will be the Executive Vice-Chairman of Cipla effective September 1, 2016," Cipla said in a statement.
She will move on from her current responsibilities to focus on board and governance issues, in addition to growing Cipla's strategic priorities through key global partnerships, corporate brand building and public advocacy, it added.

Vohra will replace "Subhanu Saxena who will step down on August 31, 2016 to attend emergent family priorities. Subhanu joined Cipla in February 2013 as CEO,", Cipla said.
Umang joined the company in October 2015 as the Global Chief Financial & Strategy Officer and was elevated as the Global Chief Operating Officer early this year as part of a planned progression, it added.

Commenting on the appointments, Cipla Non-Executive Chairman YK Hamied said, "We are delighted to see two young leaders - Umang and Samina - take on higher responsibilities within Cipla."
Samina's elevation also reinforces the long-term commitment of the promoter family to Cipla, he added.

Vaziralli was appointed as executive director on Cipla's board in 2015, paving way for a bigger role for her, nearly two weeks after another heir apparent Kamil Hamied quit the pharma company.
In June 2015, Kamil Hamied, younger brother of Vaziralli and the one who is understood to be groomed to take over the reins of the drug maker, had quit the firm citing desire to pursue interests outside the company.
Cipla further said MK Hamied will continue to serve on the Board as the non-executive Vice-Chairman.