Pfizer lures Novartis exec to be its chief oncology officer

US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) today announced that Jeffrey Legos will join the company as chief oncology officer.

In this role, Dr Legos will be responsible for leading the company’s oncology research and development, overseeing all functions from pre-clinical to late-stage clinical development activities. Dr Legos will report to Dr Chris Boshoff, chief scientific officer and president, Pfizer R&D, and will represent oncology on Pfizer’s R&D leadership team. Dr Legos will succeed Dr Roger Dansey, who will transition to retirement as previously communicated.

Dr Legos joins Pfizer from Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX), where he served as executive vice president and global head of oncology and hematology development. Prior to joining Novartis in 2015, Dr Legos served as VP and global medicines development leader in oncology at the UK’s GSK (LSE: GSK). He also previously held senior leadership positions in clinical development, translational medicine, and was the head of oncology strategy, where he was instrumental in the creation and growth of the GSK Oncology Business Unit.