Source: Sharecast
The firm said that Boshoff, most recently chief oncology officer and executive vice president, would take over as chief scientific officer and president of research and development from 1 January 2025.
Boshoff has worked at New York-based Pfizer for more than 11 years, having gained his medical degree in South Africa and post-graduate qualifications in the UK.
He replaces Mikael Dolsten, a leading figure in the development of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine. Dolsten announced his departure earlier this year after 15 years with the business.
Chief executive Albert Bourla said Boshoff was the "ideal leader to propel Pfizer’s R&D engine forward and transform it into a world-leading organisation with a more focused strategy, driving the additional impactful breakthrough medicines with blockbuster potential".
Boshoff, who will report directly to Bourla, said: "I look forward to working even more closely with Albert, our executive leadership team and our entire R&D organisation to take Pfizer’s pipeline and productively to the next level."