Pfizer promotes its first female CFO as women’s share of top finance jobs slips

Good morning. After three months as Pfizer’s interim CFO, Cecile Guegan has the job permanently.

Pfizer announced on Tuesday that Guegan was named executive vice president and CFO, effective Nov. 1. As CFO, she will oversee corporate finance functions, operations planning and analysis. She brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical finance experience.

Guegan joined Pfizer through its 2009 acquisition of Wyeth, where she served as CFO for the Asia Pacific and EMEA/Canada businesses. Most recently, she was senior vice president of finance for Pfizer’s Global Biopharmaceuticals business.

Guegan’s appointment comes as women account for a shrinking share of new CFOs globally, while fewer companies are promoting finance chiefs from within.

According to Russell Reynolds Associates’ latest Global CFO Turnover Index, women accounted for 20% of global CFO appointments in the first three quarters of 2026, down from 24% a year earlier and below the eight-year average of 22%. The trend varied by region. In the Americas, women’s share of CFO appointments rose to 21% from 18%, while EMEA held steady at about 26%. The global decline was concentrated in Asia-Pacific.

Meanwhile, CFO turnover reached its highest Q1-Q3 rate in the index’s eight-year........

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