By Fineline Cube 
Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE: JNJ) China confirmed a significant leadership change today, announcing that Alex Xuzheng He, Vice President, Head of the PINS (Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension) Business Unit, and Head of Mature Products, will officially step down from his role on December 31, 2025. This departure marks the end of his nine-year tenure with the company.
Leadership Transition & Timeline
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Executive | Alex Xuzheng He |
| Current Role | VP, Head of PINS BU, Head of Mature Products (China) |
| Departure Date | December 31, 2025 |
| Successor Announcement | Expected early Q1 2026 |
| Interim Status | Internal interim arrangements pending formal announcement |
Executive Profile and Key Achievements
Mr. He brings nearly 28 years of extensive management expertise across pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, and various industries in the Greater China and Asia-Pacific markets.
During his nine years at Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), his key responsibilities and achievements included:
- Pivotal Business Unit Leadership: He held several key roles, notably leading the Immunology and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Business Unit (from Dec 2021) and, subsequently, the combined Neurology, Infectious Diseases, and PAH unit (from Sept 2023), referred to internally as PINS.
- Market Access Success: He was instrumental in facilitating the inclusion of critical specialty products, including the immunosuppressant Ustekinumab and the IL-23 inhibitor Guselkumab, into China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). NRDL inclusion is a major driver of volume growth and market penetration for multinational pharmaceutical companies in China.
- New Product Launch: Spearheaded the successful regional launch and commercialization strategies for multiple innovative products within his therapeutic areas.
- Regional Management: Served in key regional roles such as Director of the Taiwan Business Unit and General Manager for Hong Kong and Macau at Janssen China.
Market Context & Outlook
- PINS BU Importance: The PINS unit covers high-growth, high-value specialty areas for J&J in China. The transition comes at a critical time as the company seeks to maximize the commercial potential of its newly NRDL-listed biologics.
- Successor Profile: The successor will need a deep understanding of China’s complex NRDL dynamics and a proven track record in specialty medicine commercialization to maintain momentum in these highly competitive therapeutic spaces.
- Impact Assessment: While a change in leadership can introduce temporary market uncertainty, the foundation laid by He Xuzheng, especially concerning NRDL inclusion for products like Ustekinumab and Guselkumab, is expected to provide stable revenue growth for the near term.
Forward-Looking Statements
This brief contains forward-looking statements regarding leadership transitions and commercial strategy in the China market. Actual outcomes, including the timing and identity of the successor, and the subsequent commercial performance of key NRDL products, may differ from current expectations due to internal company decisions and market dynamics.-Fineline Info & Tech