David Henderson appointed Takeda Oceania Country Head

David Henderson has been appointed Country Head for Takeda Oceania, succeeding Dave Pearce, as the pharmaceutical company continues to reshape operations amid a broader global restructuring.

Henderson joined Takeda in November 2025 as Franchise Director, Specialty for Oceania and brings more than 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical sector, including senior leadership roles across Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe.

“As I step into this role, I am guided by the belief that leadership is defined by the legacy we create through the people we develop, the values we uphold, and the impact we leave behind,” said Henderson. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead and privileged to lead alongside the remarkable colleagues across Takeda Oceania as we continue our mission of creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world, building on a legacy that began more than 245 years ago.”

Prior to joining Takeda, Henderson was Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at Biogen, where he was responsible for commercial operations and strategy across multiple therapy areas, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). His career has spanned biosimilars, neuroscience, rare diseases and early asset planning, alongside extensive experience in cross-functional management and commercial execution across regulated markets.

Henderson takes over the Oceania leadership role as Takeda implements a restructuring announced earlier this year, with the changes expected to generate annualised gross savings of more than JPY 200 billion by FY2028.

The restructuring comes against a backdrop of commercial pressure for the company, including the loss of exclusivity for its ADHD medicine Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), which contributed to a 61% decline in the drug’s sales in Takeda’s largest market, the United States.

Despite the pressure on its established portfolio, Takeda’s pipeline remains focused on gastrointestinal and inflammation, neuroscience, oncology, rare diseases and plasma-derived therapies.

The company has several late-phase clinical programmes underway, including trials of Entyvio (vedolizumab) in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, Zasocitinib (TAK-279) in plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Orzeyful (oveporexton) in narcolepsy Type 1, and Iclusig (ponatinib) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Henderson’s appointment places him at the helm of Takeda’s Oceania operations at a pivotal point for the company, with the regional business balancing organisational change with the advancement of a pipeline spanning specialty medicines and complex, high-need disease areas.

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