Effective Date & Title Change: On September 1, 2025, Kirti Ganorkar, currently Sun Pharma’s India business head, will be elevated to the position of Managing Director, succeeding founder Dilip Shanghvi in the role timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Founder’s New Role: Dilip Shanghvi, 69, will transition from Managing Director to Executive Chairman, continuing to chair the board and guide long-term strategy timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Scope of Responsibility: As MD, Ganorkar will assume leadership of Sun Pharma’s entire global business, spanning all geographies and functional areas timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Succession Planning: The move reflects Sun Pharma’s structured, forward-looking succession plan aimed at ensuring leadership continuity and strategic governance timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Shareholder Approval: Ganorkar’s appointment is subject to ratification by shareholders at Sun Pharma’s upcoming Annual General Meeting timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Aalok Shanghvi’s Expanded Role: Aalok Shanghvi, who recently became Chief Operating Officer, will additionally oversee the North America business timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
North America Leadership Change: Abhay Gandhi, President & CEO of North America, has decided to leave Sun Pharma to pursue other interests timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Incoming North America CEO: Richard Ascroft, formerly Senior Vice-President and Business Unit Head for US plasma-derived therapies at Takeda Pharma, will become CEO – North America timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Ascroft’s Credentials: Ascroft was a member of both the US and global executive leadership teams at Takeda, bringing deep biopharma experience to Sun Pharma’s largest market timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Ganorkar’s Track Record: A chemical engineer with an MBA, Ganorkar joined Sun Pharma in 1996 and has led India operations since June 2019, holding roles in business development, marketing, M&A, project management, IP, and litigation timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Founder’s Strategic Focus: In his new capacity, Shanghvi will concentrate on strengthening Sun Pharma’s specialty portfolio and shaping the company’s long-term strategic direction timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Organizational Continuity: The leadership transitions underscore Sun Pharma’s emphasis on seamless governance and the development of internal talent pipelines timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Key Milestones Under Shanghvi: Since founding Sun Pharma in 1983, Shanghvi has overseen landmark events such as the 1994 IPO, the 2015 Ranbaxy acquisition, and global revenues surpassing US$5 billion in 2022 timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Recent Strategic Acquisition: In 2025, Sun Pharma acquired Checkpoint Therapeutics for US$355 million, expanding its immunotherapy and targeted oncology portfolio timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Market Positioning: These leadership and portfolio moves position Sun Pharma to capitalize on specialty generics and innovative therapies in key global markets timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
