Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, today announced the retirement of President, Sanofi Pasteur US, and Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Damian A. Braga, who spent 27 years with the company, holding several key positions and contributing significantly to its accomplishments.
“I have taken great pride in the significant and continued evolution of our Sanofi Pasteur organization, and the impact of our products in protecting and saving millions of lives around the world,” said Braga. “I entered the company with eyes wide open – ready to learn and grow. Based on hard work, strong mentors, and being at the right place at the right time, my career expanded in ways I never thought possible, and I ultimately realized opportunities to evoke change in ways I never thought possible.”
Braga joined the company as a financial analyst in 1988. His goal-oriented mindset, natural leadership abilities and approachable management style enabled him to move quickly through a range of senior-level positions, becoming US CFO in 1996, president of the US in 2002 and head of the Americas organization in 2007.
Following his appointment as President of the U.S. Business Unit in January of 2002, revenues increased an average of 18 percent each year. During the same period, the company’s U.S. workforce nearly tripled and the Swiftwater, PA site more than doubled in acreage. In addition, the company successfully launched a new Pediatric combination vaccine, an adolescent and adult booster vaccine to protect against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria; a new meningococcal vaccine; and influenza vaccine formulations intended specifically for pediatric and elderly populations. These and other new product launches under his leadership resulted in approximately $10 billion in cumulative additional sales in the Americas Business Unit.
In 2009, Under Braga’s leadership, Sanofi Pasteur played a significant role in responding to the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. This was achieved by working with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Pan American Health Organization, and government officials in Mexico and Brazil to provide 164 million doses of H1N1 to the United States and Latin America.
In his most recent role as Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Braga led the development and implementation of Sanofi Pasteur’s commercial strategy to ensure sustainable and profitable growth through business units, countries and support functions.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers a broad range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company’s heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us
