Vas Narasimhan

Vas Narasimhan

CEO - Novartis

Since becoming CEO of Novartis in 2018, Vas has led a strategic and cultural transformation to build a focused medicines company powered by technology leadership in R&D, data science, world-class commercialisation and global access to medicine. He leads a company of more than 108,000 associates that does business in approximately 155 countries and that reached 766 million patients with its medicines in 2021.

 

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. He continues to champion access and global health priorities, including through a commitment by Novartis to expand access to innovative medicines in low- and middle-income countries by at least 200% by 2025.

 

Since joining Novartis in 2005, Vas has held a range of leadership roles, including Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines, and Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. In recognition of his sustained efforts to improve human health, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine in the US.

 

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 an avid reader on topics including history, leadership and philosophy.