Roche Is Looking Inward for New Pharma Chief as Pressure Grows

Roche Holding AG is looking within the company to replace the departing pharma chief amid growing pressure to rejuvenate its portfolio of medicines.

The Swiss drugmaker would prefer an internal candidate to replace Bill Anderson, the pharmaceutical unit chief who departed at year-end, said Chairman Christoph Franz. The company doesn’t run the risk of silo-ed thinking, he said, because there is significant movement of workers at other levels between drugmakers.

“There are always risks when someone comes as a chief who isn’t familiar with the culture of the company,” Franz, who is himself leaving the chairman’s position in ...