Sanofi announces local and regional leadership promotions

Sanofi has announced the promotion of Pankaja Dada to People Director for Sanofi Australia & New Zealand. Pankaja will take the reins from Michelle Zimany who has been promoted into a regional leadership position with the company.

Pankaja joined Sanofi five years ago as a People Business Partner, working across multiple business units and functions. She is recognised for her strategic insight, ability to balance detail with the big picture, and passion for diversity. In her new role as People Director for Australia & New Zealand, Pankaja will join Sanofi Australia & New Zealand’s country leadership team.

Michelle has built her career with Sanofi over 18 years. Since 2008, she has directed the People & Culture strategy and team. Michelle has helped navigate organisational transformation, acquisitions and divestments, cultural shifts, and hybrid work while championing diversity, equity and inclusion, and employee safety.

As a great sign of Sanofi’s commitment to global talent inclusion, Michelle will take on her new role as People Business Partner Lead for Specialty Care for the Japan and Pacific region, based in Australia.

Last month, Sanofi was named as Australia and New Zealand’s AFR BOSS Best Place to Work in the Health Industry category. Sanofi was recognised for helping Sanofians find balance between a dispersed hybrid era and a strong corporate culture. Also retaining flexibility, individuality, and space for focus and innovation.

Karen Hood,, Country Lead, Australia & New Zealand, said “At Sanofi we want to actively attract the very best talent, as well as grow the extraordinary talent we already have. We’re thrilled to appoint an excellent internal candidate, Pankaja, to this senior leadership role. It is a sign that our talent strategy and succession planning works.

“I have worked with Michelle for 18 years at Sanofi. She has helped build a wonderfully inclusive organisation and will surely continue this work in her new role. I congratulate her on the next step in her career at Sanofi.”

Michelle Zimany, appointed People Business Partner Lead for Specialty Care, Japan Pacific and one of the winners of Health Industry Hub’s Catalysts for Change Awards, said “As people, we grow when we build knowledge and critical skills, try new experiences and step outside our comfort zones. While I have worked with Sanofi for more than 18 years, this new role is an exciting challenge for me. I can confidently say your career at Sanofi has no boundaries. I am thrilled to see Pankaja as my successor. She will lead a brilliant People & Culture team who challenge, care, and foster a culture where Sanofians are all in, and all well.”

Pankaja Dada, appointed People Director, Australia & New Zealand commented “Working with Sanofi for the past five years, I can confidently say our People & Culture team is enabling our future success through our focus on talent, building our cultural excellence, and helping reinvent the way we work through simplification and stretch. I am really excited about the opportunity I have to now lead this team as we pursue progress and discover the extraordinary.”