Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Pharma India has announced the appointment of Bhavana Agrawal as chief finance officer (CFO) with effect from October 1, 2023, following a transition period, said a company statement issued today. She succeeds Rajesh Marwaha, who is retiring as CFO and full-time director of the company from the close of business hours on September 30, 2023.

Marwaha has been instrumental in building strategic frameworks for the company in India in tandem with the evolving environment of the pharmaceutical sector in the country. As a board member, he has also been a strong anchor behind key initiatives focused on improving access to healthcare.

“Rajesh has been an asset and a guiding light for us given his rich and diverse experience across industries. I want to thank him for his exemplary leadership and notable contribution in building our legacy in the country. At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Bhavana at this crucial juncture of our growth through innovation journey. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life changing medicines and with her unique global experience I am confident that we will be able to accelerate our goal of transforming patient outcomes,” said AstraZeneca India country president Dr. Sanjeev Panchal.

Agrawal’s last role was as CFO of the services business at GE Healthcare for Middle East, Africa & Russia, where she was responsible for revenue, costs, cash, planning session and financial closing activities in more than 30 countries. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s financial strategy and operations, planning and analysis, and investor relations.

AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries. AstraZeneca Pharma India was established in 1979 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. It has a workforce of over 800 employees across the country.