The company changed its corporate governance earlier this month, weeks after short-seller Gotham City issued a report questioning the company's accounting and triggering a sell-off in its shares.

Abia, a former top executive at Tokyo-based medical firm Olympus will take over on April 1.

Thomas Glanzmann, who is currently CEO and executive chairman, will continue as chairman.

The company also said Raimon Grifols and Victor Grifols, respectively Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Operating Officer, will voluntarily leave their jobs, though both will remain board members.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)