Astra takes a Leif out of Volvo book

AstraZeneca has picked former Volvo boss Leif Johansson as its next chairman, hoping his experience of steering the truck-maker through tough times will help at a drugs firm facing shrinking revenues and a weak pipeline of new drugs.

The 60-year-old Swede was chief executive of world number two truck maker Volvo for 14 years and his arrival at AstraZeneca follows a trend among drug-makers seeking lessons from the automotive industry on leaner, meaner production.

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