Japanese biopharma firm looks West for new head of IR

Tokyo-headquartered Sosei Group, an international biopharma company, has named Chris Cargill as its new head of IR and corporate communications. 

The company, which takes its name from a feudal lord of the Meiji Restoration and is unusual by Japanese standards in having a non-Japanese CEO in the form of Peter Bains, has also appointed Kieran Johnson as the company’s new group financial controller.

Cargill joins the Japanese firm, which develops innovative treatments for a range of conditions from Alzheimer’s and addiction to cancer and metabolic disease, from JPMorgan. In his role as vice president in the UK healthcare investment banking and corporate broking group, Cargill had a focus on the life sciences industry, including the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, according to a company statement.  

He boasts double bachelor’s degrees in law and business (banking & finance) and a diploma in languages (Japanese) from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He began his career in corporate finance M&A at KPMG.

Johnson, a graduate of the University of Bath in the UK, also started his accounting career at KPMG, where he spent 10 years on diversified financial and due diligence assignments specializing in pharmaceutical companies. He comes to Sosei from GlaxoSmithKline where he served as financial controller for the company’s UK pharmaceuticals sales and marketing division.

Commenting on the appointments in a press release, Bains says the new additions will benefit the company as ‘we continue to build Sosei into a global biopharmaceutical presence. 

‘Chris’ industry perspectives and experience will be crucial as we move forward with our strategic business initiatives and build our international profile. Similarly, Kieran’s global financial controls experience will enable him to play a key role leading initiatives that support our growth ambitions.’