Soriot points out that Europe now faces a double threat. On one hand, major pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in the United States to avoid their products being heavily taxed by the Trump administration. On the other, China is already a leader in generics and has become a formidable competitor in innovative medicines.
This is his job. C-Level isn’t so much steering a company as it’s representing it and asserting influence. If public fear mongering advances the companies interests then he’s the one to do it.