December 3rd 2018
Paris, December 3, 2018 – 6.00 pm CET
CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR), the designer and developer of the world’s most advanced total artificial heart project, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, today announced the cooptation of Jean-Pierre Garnier to the Company’s Board of Directors, replacing former Chairman, Jean-Claude Cadudal, who stood down, for the remaining duration of the latter’s mandate, and his appointment as Chairman of the Board.
Scientist and business leader, Jean-Pierre Garnier graduated from Louis Pasteur University (PhD in Pharmacology) and Stanford University (Master in Business Administration). He started his career in 1975 at the pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough where he held a number of management positions in Europe before becoming President of their American division. In 1990, he joined Smithkline Beecham Laboratories as President of the Pharmaceuticals Division and became President and CEO in 1999.
In 2000, Jean-Pierre Garnier achieved the merge of two of the largest pharmaceutical groups (Smithkline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome), to create GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which he chaired until 2008.
Jean-Pierre Garnier is currently a member of the Board of Directors of several biotechnology companies; President of Idorsia, Director of Radius Health. He is also a member of the Board of United Technology (Aeronautics) and a Director of the Paul Newman Foundation. From 2011, Jean-Pierre Garnier was Chairman of Actelion (Biotechnology) until its acquisition by Johnson and Johnson in 2017.
The Best Practice Institute has nominated Jean-Pierre Garnier as one of the world’s top 20 CEOs. He is an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (Officer of the Legion of Honour) and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Jean-Claude Cadudal, on behalf of the CARMAT Board of Directors, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jean-Pierre Garnier as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Through his managerial career at the helm of world leaders in the pharmaceutical industry such as GSK as well as his extensive experience of the medical area, Jean-Pierre has all the skills required to steer, alongside Stéphane Piat, CEO of CARMAT, the Company’s industrial and commercial development. This highly-experienced duo and the CARMAT management team have all the necessary assets to make CARMAT a global leader in medical devices for heart failure.”
Stéphane Piat, Chief Executive Officer of CARMAT, added: “I am delighted to be able to team up with Jean-Pierre Garnier, new Chairman of the CARMAT Board of Directors. We had been preparing this important transition for some months now. Indeed, with the Company on the verge of a crucial phase in its development, its expansion, it is necessary to further expand its governance with professionals who have substantial medical experience and an in-depth knowledge of the challenges of the healthcare market. Today, we firmly believe that Jean-Pierre Garnier will be able to build on our solid foundations and capitalize on his large experience in the health sector to significantly support us in the development of the innovative therapy that the CARMAT approach represents.”
Jean-Pierre Garnier, newly appointed Chairman of the CARMAT Board of Directors, concluded: “The artificial heart invented by Professor Alain Carpentier and developed by CARMAT represents a vital solution for numerous patients suffering from this chronic condition that is end-stage biventricular heart failure. This technological accomplishment, which meets patients’ expectations, has the potential to make CARMAT a leading player in the medical technology sector, and I am particularly delighted to contribute to its development as new Chairman of the Board of Directors. On behalf of the entire Board and shareholders, I would like to thank Jean-Claude Cadudal, Chairman of the company since its inception in 2008, who has shown his ability to mark his vision and values on CARMAT, and thus take it to the clinical proof-of-concept phase via the implementation of important industrial processes for the future. The Senior Management team and Board members are all enthusiastic and determined to transform this project into a genuine commercial success, and I will strive to contribute all of my know-how in order to accompany them in this ambitious and fascinating endeavor.”