AstraZeneca flack Chip Davis is joining PhRMA to work on the leadership transition ahead of president and CEO Billy Tauzin’s exit in June. Davis is taking a leave of absence at AstraZeneca, where he is VP, corporate external relations, to work full time at PhRMA as senior operating officer, in which role he will work closely with search committee head and AstraZeneca chief David Brennan until a replacement for Tauzin is found. Davis heads AstraZeneca’s US government relations and reimbursement teams, as well as strategic alliances, community relations and employee volunteering efforts, and has served as the company’s PhRMA liaison since 2004.