UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions for the immune system and of the central nervous system, and CEO Roch Doliveux have announced the implementation of its CEO succession plan.

Jean-Christophe Tellier, currently UCB’s executive vice president, Biopharma Brands and Solutions, will be appointed CEO-elect and chairman of the Executive Committee as of March 1. Jean-Christophe Tellier also will be proposed to be appointed as a member of the board at the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on April 24.

This change is the result of a long and well thought through succession plan to ensure necessary experience and knowledge transfer. It creates the best conditions for the company’s future growth allowing it, together with its 8500 colleagues, to deliver on UCB’s commitment to patients.

“In the last 10 years, under Roch Doliveux’s leadership, UCB has evolved from a diversified chemical company into a global biopharmaceutical leader,” said Gerhard Mayr, chairman of UCB’s board. “Roch has put everything in place to prepare UCB for its next phase. We are confident that Jean-Christophe Tellier will continue to drive UCB to provide superior and sustainable value for patients. He and Roch will continue to work together throughout 2014 to ensure a smooth handover before Jean-Christophe takes the helm of UCB as of Jan. 1, 2015.”

Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB, said, “UCB is entering an important new growth era: our late-stage pipeline is poised to reach pivotal milestones from the second half of 2014 through mid- 2016. Leadership continuity is critical to ensuring the successful launch of these important products in the severe disease areas of osteoporosis, lupus and epilepsy. Since joining UCB in 2011, Jean-Christophe has played a key role in UCB’s successes, and he has been instrumental in helping establish our current strategy. Jean-Christophe’s 25-year career in the biopharmaceutical industry, his patient-centric approach, his medical background as a rheumatologist and his passion for developing talent make him the perfect candidate to lead the company through its next phase of evolution.”