Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) (NONOF) head of public affairs in the U.S., Jennifer Duck, has left the company after serving the weight loss drugmaker for more than six years, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a memo sent to company employees.
The memo, which, according to a source, was sent late last week, stated that Duck, who formerly worked as senior adviser to leading Senate Democrats, “has made the personal decision to leave Novo Nordisk and pursue other opportunities outside of the organization.” In an email to Reuters, the company confirmed the exit, noting that Duck’s last day was Friday.
The company has named Chris Pernie, whose LinkedIn profile identifies him as an executive director of government affairs at Novo (NVO), as her replacement on an interim basis with immediate effect, according to the memo.
Duck’s departure marks the latest corporate reshuffle at the Danish drugmaker, which undertook a major restructuring initiative last year under its new CEO, Mike Doustdar. With its leadership position in the booming weight loss drug market under threat from its U.S. rival Eli Lilly (LLY), the company announced plans to cut its global workforce by about 9,000 in September, seeking to generate annualized savings of roughly DKK 8B ($1.25B) by the end of 2026.