Severin Schwan, currently chief executive officer of Roche Diagnostics, will succeed Franz B. Humer as chief executive officer of the Roche Group effective March 2008. Dr. Humer will focus on his role as chairman of Roche Holdings.

Franz B. Humer said, “In view of the increasing complexity of the tasks involved, the board has decided to separate the chairman and CEO roles. I am delighted that we are appointing Severin Schwan, a 40 year-old executive with an outstanding track record and broad international experience at both corporate and divisional level, as the new CEO. As Chairman I will continue to work with the board and executive committee to continue building Roche into a leading global healthcare corporation.”

Franz Humer joined Roche in 1995 as head of the Pharmaceuticals Division. He was appointed chief operating officer in 1996, chief executive officer of the Roche Group in 1998, and chairman of Roche Holding in 2001. He is a member of the boards of Allianz AG and Diageo Plc and of the JPMorgan International Council.

Mr. Schwan began his career in 1993 at Roche Basel as a finance officer. Following management positions in Germany and Belgium, he became head of Roche Diagnostics’ global finance organization before being named head of the division’s Asia–Pacific organization. In January 2006 Mr. Schwan was appointed chief executive officer of Roche Diagnostics.