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Why Valeant Pharmaceuticals International’s new CEO may signal a shift from ‘disruptor’ to ‘plain vanilla’

Published: 28 April 2016

 Less than a year ago Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.’s CEO Michael Pearson represented a disruption to big pharma by coming from outside the industry, using aggressive acquisitions and strategic business tactics to grow the company to a global giant.  

Now the company has hired Joseph Papa as the new CEO, a 35-year pharmaceutical industry veteran with a history of taking a balanced approach to business. If the past few months of Pearson’s tenure can be described as rocky road, Papa could help bring a new flavour to Valeant.

“He’s plain vanilla,” said Robert David, a professor at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. 

“I think plain vanilla isn’t such a bad thing at this time for this company. It signals stability as opposed to disruption.” 

Read full article: Financial Times, 25 April, 2016 

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