Directorate Change

31 May 2017 07:00 BST

ASTRAZENECA APPOINTS PROFESSOR NAZNEEN RAHMAN

TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SCIENCE COMMITTEE

AstraZeneca announced that, effective 1 June 2017, the Board has appointed Professor Nazneen Rahman as a Non-Executive Director of AstraZeneca PLC. On appointment, Professor Rahman also becomes a member of the Science Committee.

Professor Nazneen Rahman is Head of the Division of Genetics and Epidemiology at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London; Head of the Cancer Genetics Unit at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust; and Director of the TGL clinical gene testing laboratory at the ICR. She qualified in medicine from Oxford University and holds a PhD in molecular genetics.

Professor Rahman's research harnesses her scientific and clinical expertise to identify and clinically implement human disease genes. She has a strong focus on cancer predisposition genes, in which she is an internationally-recognised expert and has discovered many such genes during her career, particularly for breast, ovarian and childhood cancers.

Elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2010, Professor Rahman is a member of the scientific advisory boards of Genomics plc and the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, as well as the advisory board of Wellcome Open Research.

Professor Rahman has a strong commitment to open science and science communication and has garnered numerous awards, including a CBE in the 2016 Queen's birthday honours in recognition of her contribution to medical sciences.

Leif Johansson, Chairman of AstraZeneca, said: "We are delighted to welcome Professor Rahman to our Board and Science Committee. She brings world-renowned expertise in genetic research with a focus on cancer, which is a strategic therapy area for our business."

In relation to Professor Rahman's appointment, no disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (1) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

Adrian Kemp

Company Secretary, AstraZeneca PLC