Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-05-17 10:19Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk's CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen unexpectedly announced his resignation, marking the first time since the 1960s that the company has dismissed a CEO in such a manner, highlighting increasing pressure from capital markets [1][3]. Group 1: CEO Resignation and Market Reaction - The Danish Shareholders Association expressed surprise at the CEO's departure, noting it as a significant change in the company's leadership history [3]. - Analysts were shocked by the decision, as Jørgensen had overseen the successful launch of the GLP-1 weight loss drug semaglutide, which gained FDA approval for diabetes treatment in 2017 and obesity treatment in 2021 [3][4]. - Despite the company's growth under Jørgensen, a recent decline in stock price has overshadowed his achievements, reflecting the harsh realities of capital market pressures [3][4]. Group 2: Compensation and Market Competition - Jørgensen's salary for 2023 was approximately 68.2 million Danish kroner (about 9.52 million USD), but due to poor stock performance, it is set to decrease to 57.1 million Danish kroner (about 7.97 million USD) in 2024 [4]. - In contrast, Eli Lilly's CEO David Ricks earned 29.2 million USD in 2024, significantly higher than Jørgensen's compensation, illustrating the disparity in executive pay between American and European pharmaceutical companies [4][6]. - The decline in Novo Nordisk's stock price, nearly 60% over the past year, was influenced by competitive pressures from Eli Lilly's strong data on its weight loss drug tirzepatide [4][5]. Group 3: Search for New Leadership - Novo Nordisk is actively seeking a new CEO to replace Jørgensen, with suggestions that the company may benefit from hiring someone with expertise in the U.S. pharmaceutical market to better compete against Eli Lilly [5][8]. - Analysts from Barclays and UBS emphasized the need for a leader familiar with the U.S. system to enhance the company's global market participation [8]. - The trend of hiring non-European CEOs is growing, as seen in companies like Novartis and Bayer, which have American leaders [6][8]. Group 4: Global Market Dynamics - The appointment of a U.S.-based CEO would represent a significant shift in Novo Nordisk's tradition of Danish leadership, potentially necessary for the company's next breakthrough [8]. - Analysts noted that while Europe excels in drug development, it often lags in the commercialization phase compared to American firms, which dominate the global pharmaceutical market [9].