Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has named Aradhana Sarin as its next chief financial officer.

The appointment is conditional upon AstraZeneca’s acquisition of US firm Alexion Pharmaceuticals, where Sarin is currently CFO. The deal is expected to be completed later this year.

Sarin will replace Marc Dunoyer, who is stepping down from the AstraZeneca board to become the firm’s chief strategy officer, and will be CEO of Alexion once the takeover is completed.

Sarin was previously managing director, healthcare corporate and investment banking at Citi Global Banking in New York, where she advised clients in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors. Before that, she was managing director, healthcare investment banking at UBS in New York and San Francisco, and worked at JP Morgan in the M&A advisory and healthcare groups. Prior to her banking career, Sarin trained as a medical doctor in India.

Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca CEO, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to Marc for his tremendous achievements since he joined our company, and thank him personally for his outstanding support these past years. I’m looking forward to working with him in his new role as CEO, Alexion, the Rare Disease Unit of AstraZeneca, and to his continued strategic input to AstraZeneca’s success.

“I’m delighted Aradhana has agreed to become AstraZeneca’s next CFO and I look forward to working with her as the company embarks on the next stage of its journey.”