Roche Announces Retirement of pRED Head Hans Clevers and Communications Leader Barbara Schädler

Roche Announces Retirement of pRED Head Hans Clevers and Communications Leader Barbara Schädler

(IN BRIEF) Roche has revealed that Dr. Hans Clevers, Head of Pharma Research and Early Development and board member since 2019, will retire from his pRED role at the end of August, though he will continue leading the Institute of Human Biology until a new appointee is named. Additionally, Barbara Schädler, Roche’s Head of Group Communications since 2019, will retire at the end of 2025 after modernizing the company’s communications strategy and steering it through the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Thomas Schinecker lauded both executives for their transformative contributions. Successors will be announced at a later date.

(PRESS RELEASE) BASEL, 30-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced the upcoming retirements of two senior executives. Johannes (Hans) Clevers, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) and member of Roche’s enlarged Corporate Executive Committee, will step down from his pRED responsibilities at the end of August. Dr. Clevers, who joined the Roche Board of Directors in 2019 and assumed leadership of pRED in March 2022, will continue to head Roche’s Institute of Human Biology until a successor is named.

Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker paid tribute to Dr. Clevers’ impact: “Hans is an extraordinary scientist whose leadership has fast-tracked several game-changing therapies into late-stage development. His work has laid the foundation for Roche’s future innovations and improved patient care. I’ve greatly valued our collaboration and look forward to his ongoing contributions at the Institute of Human Biology.”

Barbara Schädler, Head of Group Communications and fellow member of the enlarged Corporate Executive Committee, will retire at year-end. Ms. Schädler joined Roche in 2019 and has since led a comprehensive modernization of the company’s communications function.

“Over more than six years, Barbara has reshaped how Roche communicates its mission internally and externally,” continued Mr. Schinecker. “Her strategic leadership—especially during the COVID-19 crisis—ensured clarity and cohesion across our organization. I’m grateful for her resilience, vision, and partnership.”

Roche will announce successors for both roles in due course.

About Roche
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche’s business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

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SOURCE: Roche