Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced a number of leadership changes approved by its board of directors and effective at the close of the annual shareholders' meeting on May 5. Giovanni Caforio, M.D., 50, will become chief executive officer of the company. Lamberto Andreotti, 64, will become executive chairman of the board of directors on May 5 and will continue to serve as chairman after his retirement on August 3. James M. Cornelius, 71, has chosen not to stand for re-election as non-executive chairman and will retire from the board. TogoD.

West, Jr., 72, will become the lead independent director on the company's board. Caforio brings a broad range of experience to his role as CEO. Through ever-expanding roles, Caforio has made significant contributions to improving the company's strategic focus and operational performance.

He helped build the company's leadership in immuno-oncology through his roles in U.S. and Global Oncology. As chief commercial officer and chief operating officer he led the transformation of the company's global commercial organization into one uniquely designed to be able to differentially invest in the most important opportunities. As a member of the company's Senior Management Team since 2011 and the company's board of directors since 2014, Caforio has been integral in shaping the company's successful transformation to a Diversified Specialty BioPharma company.

Andreotti joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1998 as vice president and general manager, Italy and European Oncology. He held a number of roles of increasing responsibility and was elected to the board of directors in March 2009. He became CEO in May 2010.

He also sits on the board of directors of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Cornelius has been non-executive chairman since May 2010. He served as chairman and chief executive officer from February 2008 to May 2010 and served as chief executive officer from September 2006 to February 2008.

Cornelius is the non-executive chairman of the board of directors of Mead Johnson Nutrition Company.