LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Can a CEO be worth $9 billion? That’s the question posed by the 4% fall in AstraZeneca’s (AZN.L) shares following an article stating boss Pascal Soriot may soon resign. The company has played down the report, and its stock has recovered, but the episode highlights its uncertain position were 64-year-old Soriot to leave. Without a clear succession plan, investors should prepare for further swings. Small wonder investors and analysts wonder whether AstraZeneca will be able to find a successor capable of replicating his success.

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Persons: Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s, Ivan Menezes, Debra Crew, Soriot, Susan Galbraith, David Fredrickson, Luke Miels, Soriot’s, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Pfizer, pharma, Novartis, Sanofi, GSK, AstraZeneca, Diageo, Thomson Locations: AstraZeneca’s, Swedish