Roche's Humer steps down as CEO, remains chairman

ZURICH, Switzerland Roche Holding’s chief executive officer Franz Humer stepped down from his position yesterday, turning over the reigns to Severin Schwan, formerly the head of the company’s diagnostics unit, according to Reuters.

Humer resigns at a time when Roche is booming in the pharmaceutical market. According to a speech made by Humer at the company’s annual general meeting, “Roche’s growth is very broadly based and, with the exception of CellCept, which is used in transplantation, none of our major products is facing patent expiry in the next few years. “This situation is very different to that of our competitors.”

Schwan, the new chief executive at Roche, aims to enhance the company’s position in personalized medicine, developing technology to help researchers and doctors select the right drugs for individual patients.

Humer will remain as Roche’s chairman.