Manu Sawang-Jaeng, director of sales of Pfizer (Thailand), has been named country manager of the local unit, effective from April 1. He succeeds Amal Naj, who has been promoted to vice president of investor development and strategy based at Pfizer's head office in New York.

Dudley Schleier, president of Pfizer Asia and Japan, who was in Bangkok recently to make the announcement, said: "I'm proud to name a Thai colleague to this important position, which marks a first for our company. It is testimony to the talents and achievements of the Thai organisation, which has become under Naj's leadership the largest pharmaceuticals company in Thailand."

During his six years as head of Pfizer Thailand, Naj guided the company through a sixfold increase in its business. He was also instrumental in establishing Pfizer's community partnership programmes in HIV/Aids and educational support granted through the Pfizer Thailand Foundation.