Mike Doustdar
Mike Doustdar | |
|---|---|
 Mike Doustdar speaking at a Novo event in 2024 | |
| Born | 29 August 1970 Iran |
| Education | Webster University Vienna, Harvard Business School |
| Occupations | Business person, Chief Executive Officer |
| Employer | Novo |
Maziar Mike Doustdar, also known as Mike Doustdar, (born 29 August 1970) is an Austrian-Iranian business executive who has served as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Novo since 7 August 2025.[1][2][3] He is the first non-Danish person to lead the company since its founding in 1923.
Early life and education
[edit]Mike Doustdar was born in Iran on 29 August 1970 and later grew up in the United States.[4][5] He studied international business at Webster University in Vienna, Austria, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1994. In 2012, he completed an executive programme at Harvard Business School.[6]
Career
[edit]Early career at Novo
[edit]Mike Doustdar joined Novo in 1992 as an office clerk in Vienna.[6] Over the following decades, he held various positions in finance, logistics, operations, and marketing across multiple regions, including the Near East, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.[7]
International operations
[edit]In 2014, Mike Doustdar was appointed executive vice president for International Operations, responsible for emerging markets outside Europe and North America.[6] Under his leadership, international sales more than doubled, reaching approximately DKK 112 billion in 2024, supported by a workforce of around 20,000 employees.[7]
CEO of Novo
[edit]
On 29 July 2025, Novo announced Mike Doustdar's appointment as president and CEO, succeeding Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, effective 7 August 2025.[1][2] His appointment coincided with the company lowering its financial growth outlook, which led to a decline in share price.[2][8]
As CEO, Mike Doustdar initiated measures to improve efficiency, including a hiring freeze in non-critical areas and a sharper focus on the company's core therapeutic areas of diabetes and obesity.[9][10]
Mike Doustdar was included on the 2026 Time 100 list of most influential people in health for his work at Novo.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Mike Doustdar is married and has two sons.[4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 A/S, Novo Nordisk (29 July 2025). "Maziar Mike Doustdar appointed as president and chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- 1 2 3 Gronholt-Pedersen, Jacob; Jacobsen, Stine; Fick, Maggie; Gronholt-Pedersen, Jacob; Fick, Maggie (29 July 2025). "Wegovy maker Novo's profit warning triggers $70 billion share rout". Reuters. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Maziar Mike Doustdar". www.efpia.eu. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- 1 2 "DR's korrespondent har mødt den nye Novo-chef: Hastighed ligger til min personlighed" [DR's correspondent has met the new Novo boss: Speed is my personality]. DR (in Danish). 9 August 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ Liu, Angus (29 July 2025). "Novo Nordisk names new CEO as it cuts sales, profit outlook". www.fiercepharma.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Maziar Mike Doustdar". Novo Nordisk. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- 1 2 "Meet Mike Doustdar". Novo Nordisk. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ Pimentel, Benjamin (29 July 2025). "Novo Nordisk Falls On Lowered Guidance. Pharma Giant Names New CEO". Investor's Business Daily. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "'Execution, Execution, Execution': Novo's New CEO Doubles Down on Obesity, Diabetes and Trims Pipeline". BioSpace. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Maziar Mike Doustdar". www.orionpharma.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ Gooch, Kelly (11 February 2026). "Time's 100 most influential people in health: 4 notes". Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
