Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> September 13, 2002

John Symonds – Astrazeneca (azn)

JON SYMONDS joined the AstraZeneca Board and Senior Executive Team from Zeneca, where he had held the position of Finance Director since 1997. Jon was previously a Partner of KPMG, having joined that company in 1980. During his 17 years with KPMG, Jon worked on a number of major flotation and investigation projects, and was seconded to the US where he gained experience of the U.S. market and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting. He also managed the ICI Group audit from 1987 to 1992 before being seconded to ICI to assist with the demerger project and the formation of Zeneca, ultimately becoming KPMG's lead partner for its worldwide services to Zeneca. For the last six years with KPMG, Jon worked on a number of major transactions, which had a profound impact on the restructuring of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. Jon's academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Business and Finance) and a Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is married with a son and a daughter, and retains a keen interest in sport, the theatre and reading. Profile
TWST: Would you begin with a description of AstraZeneca's specialty?

Mr. Symonds: In size, we are clearly one of the leading pharmaceutical

companies in the world, third or fourth or