By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : November 13, 2026 5:49 pm
Cristian Massacesi to Lead Unified R&D Organization Designed to Accelerate Pipeline Momentum, Effective January 1, 2027
Bristol Myers Squibb is merging its Research & Development teams into a single unit led by Cristian Massacesi starting January 1, 2027. Robert Plenge will serve in an advisory role through March 2027 to assist with the transition before leaving the company.
“Bringing Research and Development together as one organization is an important step in our work to position BMS for long-term growth,” said Christopher Boerner, Ph.D., board chair and chief executive officer.
“Under Cristian’s leadership, this new structure will more closely connect our scientific and clinical expertise across R&D, accelerate decision making and ultimately enhance portfolio execution. Increasingly, traditional boundaries between research and development are collapsing. This combined R&D organization sets us up to attract and retain the best talent, build critical capabilities, and better integrate new technology. I want to sincerely thank Robert for his extraordinary and lasting contributions to Bristol Myers Squibb, and his support on evolving the organization.”
“This is an exciting time at BMS, with immense scientific potential and an important opportunity to deliver on the promise of our pipeline while building what comes next,” said Cristian Massacesi, M.D., executive vice president, chief medical officer and incoming Head of R&D. “I’m grateful to Robert for his partnership, all he has contributed and the organization he has built. Our Research & Development teams are advancing exceptional science and uniting them as one team will enable us to translate our most promising discoveries into medicines for patients with greater speed and focus.”
“I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together in Research at Bristol Myers Squibb,” said Robert Plenge, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, chief research officer. “It has been an honor to work alongside such exceptional scientists in advancing our mission. Cristian and I developed this new R&D structure in partnership, and I’m confident it is the right path forward for BMS and, most importantly, our patients.”
Effective January 1, 2027, the unified R&D organization will bring together Bristol Myers Squibb’s scientific and clinical expertise as one organization, strengthening collaboration from discovery through development. By combining the strengths of its teams, BMS aims to advance its pipeline with greater speed, sharper focus and a shared commitment to delivering for patients.