Jean-Paul Kress

About Jean-Paul Kress

Jean-Paul Kress is a French pharmaceutical executive and, since January 1, 2025, an independent director on Sanofi’s Board of Directors. At Sanofi, he serves on the Strategy Committee and the Scientific Committee, where he contributes to discussions on long-term direction, innovation priorities, and the company’s biopharmaceutical evolution. His appointment reflects Sanofi’s intention to bring in deep international experience in drug development, biotech leadership, and scientific governance. Kress is a physician by training. He earned his M.D. from Faculté Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris and also graduated from École Normale Supérieure (Ulm), with an academic background in molecular and cellular pharmacology. This combination of medical and scientific training has shaped a career focused on translational medicine, clinical development, and the strategic leadership of research-driven healthcare businesses. Before joining Sanofi’s board, he served as Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys from 2019 until the company was acquired by Novartis in 2024. During that period, he led MorphoSys’s transformation into a global biopharmaceutical company and helped advance its mission of developing and commercializing novel cancer medicines. Prior to MorphoSys, he was CEO of Syntimmune, where he sharpened the company’s focus on late-stage clinical development in autoimmune diseases until its acquisition by Alexion. These leadership roles underscore his experience in turning scientific platforms into clinically and commercially relevant assets. Earlier in his career, Kress held several senior leadership positions at pharmaceutical companies in both the United States and Europe, giving him broad exposure to international markets, regulatory environments, and corporate strategy. He has also served in governance roles, including as Chairman of the Board of ERYTECH Pharma and as a board member of Sarepta Therapeutics. Taken together, his background combines operational leadership, boardroom experience, and strong scientific credentials, making him a notable figure in European and global biopharma governance.