AstraZeneca seeks outsider as CFO

LONDON AstraZeneca is looking for a new chief financial officer to help them trump the competition in the drug market, The Financial Times reported on Monday.

The pharmaceuticals group said they are looking for candidates that are beyond the pharmaceutical field in order to enhance their management style and their overall proficiency.

The recommendation befalls after the sudden exit of AstraZeneca’s chief financial officer, Jon Symonds, who quit in June to join Goldman Sachs. Company executives have led to a four-month search to find a replacement. They said that after conducting several interviews with frontrunner candidates, a decision will be made in the near future.

According to reports, Symonds’s resignation was a setback to the company. His presence was a necessity; the company managed to hold on to earnings in spite of industry hindrances, and relished in the fact their CFO had strong communication skills, instilling confidence in the company’s investors.