Kirti Ganorkar Takes Over as MD at Sun Pharma

Ganorkar will be replacing Dilip Shanghvi as MD, who will now continue as the executive chairman of the board to provide strategic oversight for the company's long-term strategy.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India's largest drugmaker, has announced a leadership transition, appointing Kirti Ganorkar as Managing Director, effective September 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the founder Dilip Shanghvi will step down from the role and continue as the Executive Chairman of the Board, focusing on strengthening Sun Pharma's high-growth specialty portfolio.

The company said that the move marks the culmination of a "structured and forward-looking succession planning process" aimed at ensuring leadership continuity.

Ganorkar, a Sun Pharma veteran who joined the company in 1996, has been heading the India Business since June 2019, where he has successfully increased the market share.

During his career at the pharmaceutical giant, Ganorkar held leadership roles in business development, marketing, and mergers and acquisitions. He was instrumental in driving the company's entry into the specialty drug market by securing rights for innovative products like Ilumya and led its initial expansion into Japan and Europe.

Additionally, Ganorkar also supported major generic projects for the US pharmaceutical markets, further strengthening the company’s global footprint.

“Kirti has consistently demonstrated effective leadership managing diverse roles at Sun. I have a firm belief in his ability to lead the company into its next phase of growth,” Shanghvi said in a statement,

Meanwhile, stepping down as MD, Dilip Shanghvi will continue to serve as the Executive Chairman, leading the board and focusing on expanding the company’s portfolio.

The company also announced the changes in its North American operations, where Abhay Gandhi, President and CEO will be replaced by Richard “Rick” Ashcroft, a biopharmaceutical executive with more than thirty years of experience.

Further, Aalok Shanghvi, Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer will now also oversee the North American business, with Ascroft reporting directly to him.

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