Correspondence: Diego Esteban, Russell Reynolds Associates Edificio Prisma, Avda. Diagonal, 613, 2° ABarcelona 08028, Spain. Tel: +34 93 494 9400; Fax: +34 93 363 47 41; e-mail: desteban@russellreynolds.com

¹is a Managing Director with Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading international executive search and assessment firm. Based in Barcelona, he has worked extensively with multinational clients in pharmaceuticals, life sciences and medical devices on both global and local appointments. He received his degree in Medicine from UAB and MBA from IESE.

Received 3 August 2007; Revised 3 August 2007.

Abstract

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes increasingly critical to the sustainability of large pharmaceutical companies, the CSR function will become central to business strategy and will be led by a new breed of senior executives.