Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

NVS—CMO, Vasant Narasimhan becomes CEO 2/1/18—succeeding Joe Jimenez (who has been CEO since 2010):

https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-ceo-joseph-jimenez-retire-novartis-2018-vasant-narasimhan

Dr. Narasimhan has held numerous leadership positions across Novartis in commercial, drug development and strategy roles. Prior to his current role he served as Head of Development for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Before joining Novartis in 2005, he worked at McKinsey & Company.

He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in the US and obtained a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In addition, he holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago, also in the US. During and after his medical studies, he worked extensively on a range of health issues in developing countries.

Narasimhan is a US citizen, as is Jimenez. This seems like a small matter now; however, at the time of Jimenez’s CEO appointment in 2010, the decision was controversial insofar as some directors believed NVS should be run by a Swiss national.