AstraZeneca Proposes Appointment of Ann Cairns as Non-Executive Director

AstraZeneca Proposes Appointment of Ann Cairns as Non-Executive Director

20 March 2014

AstraZeneca today announced that Ann Cairns will be proposed to shareholders for election as a Non-Executive Director at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 24 April 2014.  On election, the Board proposes appointing Ann to AstraZeneca's Audit Committee.

Leif Johansson, AstraZeneca Chairman, said: "I'm delighted to propose Ann Cairns for election to the AstraZeneca Board.  Ann will bring more than twenty years' in-depth financial and international business experience to the Board and we look forward to welcoming her."

All current Directors will be presenting themselves for re-election, in accordance with AstraZeneca's normal practice, at the Company's AGM.  Subject to shareholder approval, Ann will join the Board with effect from the end of the AGM on 24 April 2014.

There are no directorships to disclose under paragraph (1) and no disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (2) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules in respect of this proposed appointment.

– ENDS –


NOTES TO EDITORS

Ann Cairns - biographical details

Ann Cairns is President, International Markets for MasterCard, responsible for the management of all markets and customer-related activities outside North America.  She is credited with building sustainable, strong growth rates for the company, leading the rollout of innovation, and building new global partnerships with governments, telecommunication companies and organisations such as the World Food Programme.

Ann brings more than 20 years' experience working in senior management positions across Europe and the US, running global retail and investment banking operations.

Prior to joining MasterCard in August 2011, Ann was head of the Financial Industry Group with Alvarez & Marsal in London, where she led the European team managing Lehman Brothers Holdings International through the Chapter 11 process.  Prior to that Ann was CEO, Transaction Banking at ABN AMRO, and spent 15 years in senior operational positions at Citigroup.

At the start of her career, Ann spent time as an award-winning research engineer, culminating as the head of Offshore Engineer – Planning for British Gas.  Managing a team of more than 50 engineers, Ann was the first woman qualified to work offshore in Britain. 

Ann received a first class BSc in Pure Mathematics at Sheffield University and an MSc with research into medical statistics from Newcastle University.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

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