In planning ahead for changes at the CEO level, Novartis recently said in a release that Vasant Narasimhan will be taking over as CEO of the pharmaceutical company on Feb. 1.
The move comes as Joseph Jimenez is preparing to retire, stepping down from the CEO role on Jan. 31, 2018, the release said. Jimenez, who joined the company in 2007 as the head of the consumer health division, will remain available to the board until the end of August 2018.
Narasimhan joined Novartis in 2005, and before becoming the global head of drug development and chief medical officer, he was head of development. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
"I would like to congratulate Joe and express my gratitude to Joe, Joerg (Reinhardt, chairman of the Novartis board of directors) and the board of directors," Narasimhan said in the release. "I feel honored and humbled to be asked to lead Novartis. We will continue our legacy of bringing leading innovation to patients around the world. ... With our recent launches, our strong pipeline, broad capabilities, world-class leadership team, and committed people, I am very confident about our future."
