(Sharecast News) - Hikma Pharmaceuticals has named Rebecca Hall chief executive, the generic drugs specialist confirmed on Thursday.

Hall will join from ViiV Healthcare, a specialist in HIV/Aids treatments, where she is senior vice president and chief financial officer. Prior to joining ViiV in 2018, Hall spent 14 years at GlaxoSmithKline, now called GSK.

Her appointment follows a management shake-up that started last December, shortly after the group warned on profits. Chief executive Riad Mishlawi left after 20 years with the company, with executive Said Darwazah - himself a former chief executive - resuming the role on a temporary basis. He has since stepped down as executive chair to focus exclusively on the chief executive role.

Chief financial officer Khalid Nabilsi also joined the board in December, taking on expanding management duties, while Areb Kurdi, group financial controller, became acting CFO.

Hall will now replace Nabilsi on the board, who will stay with the company in his role as deputy chief executive, North America and Europe.

Hall said: "I look forward to helping deliver Hikma's growth ambition and creating last value for patients, shareholders and colleagues." Her start date has yet to be announced.

Darwazah, who is the son of Samih Darwazah, Hikma's founder, said Hall was an "accomplished pharmaceutical leader". He continued: "She brings financial and operational discipline that will support the delivery of our strategic plans."

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