Novartis: Leadership and Science.
Speakers
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Vasant NarasimhanChief Executive Officer of Novartis InternationalVasant Narasimhan
Counsellor
Chief Executive Officer of Novartis International
NovartisVas Narasimhan is the CEO of Novartis, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals. Since becoming CEO in 2018, Vas has led a strategic and cultural transformation to build a fully focused medicines company—one that delivers high-value medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. He leads a company of around 78 000 associates that does business in approximately 120 countries and that reached nearly 300 million patients with innovative medicines in 2024. Under his leadership, Novartis has experienced new heights of performance, marking some of the strongest years in the company’s history. Vas has focused his education and career on improving human health and on his personal purpose of inspiring a healthier world. During and after his medical studies, he worked on public health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in India, Africa and South America and continues to champion access and global health priorities today. Over his career, Vas has overseen the approval of over 35 novel medicines and vaccines. Vas is an elected member of the US National Academy of Medicine, a member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees, and a member of the board of fellows at Harvard Medical School. Vas previously served as chair of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and remains on its board of directors. This year, Vas was listed as one of the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vas lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife and two sons. A lifelong vegetarian, he is passionate about environmental and wildlife conservation — and is Chair of the African Parks Network, the largest conservation organization in Africa. He received his BA from the University of Chicago and his MD and MPP from Harvard University.