PARIS--French pharma company Sanofi has named former GE veteran Frank Farnel to a senior public affairs role.

Farnel is charged with leading public affairs for Sanofi's non-communicable disease unit. He joins the company after one year as Novo Nordisk's global public affairs head.

Prior to Novo Nordisk, Farnel spent seven years with GE Energy, overseeing the company's public affairs and government relations in Europe. The public affairs veteran has also worked at Bombardier, Renault and Toyota during his career.

He arrives at Sanofi after the company's plan to cut 2,500 jobs was criticized by the French government last year. Under pressure, Sanofi reduced the number to 900 voluntary redundancies.