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United States Vas Narasimhan has transitioned from a medical doctor to the Chief Executive Officer of a global pharmaceutical company, driving innovation and strategic transformation in the healthcare industry.
Since becoming CEO of Novartis in 2018, Vas has led a strategic and cultural transformation to build a fully focused medicines company, focusing on high-value medicines and technological leadership in R&D.
As part of his strategy to focus Novartis on medicines, Narasimhan divested the joint consumer healthcare venture to GSK.
Narasimhan oversaw the spin-off of Alcon, further streamlining Novartis's portfolio to focus on innovative medicines.
Under Narasimhan, Novartis exited its stake in Roche as part of its strategy to become a more focused medicines company.
Narasimhan led the acquisition of Advanced Accelerator Applications, deepening Novartis's engagement in nuclear medicine.
Novartis acquired Endocyte under Narasimhan's leadership, expanding its portfolio in targeted radioligand therapies for cancer.
The acquisition of AveXis reinforced Novartis's position in gene therapy, particularly with treatments like Zolgensma.
Novartis acquired The Medicines Company, adding innovative cardiovascular treatments to its pipeline under Narasimhan's direction.
Novartis entered a collaboration with Isomorphic Labs, a digital biology company, to revolutionize drug discovery through AI.
Vas Narasimhan was recognized on the 2025 TIME100 Health list for his contributions to the healthcare industry.
Narasimhan served as Chair of PhRMA (2023-2024) and remains on its board of directors, influencing pharmaceutical industry policy and advocacy.
Narasimhan is the Chair of the African Parks Network in South Africa, reflecting his passion for environmental and wildlife conservation.
Vas Narasimhan is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine in the US, recognizing his sustained efforts to improve human health.
Narasimhan is a member of the board of fellows at Harvard Medical School.
Vasant “Vas” Narasimhan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1976. His parents, who emigrated from Tamil Nadu, India, in the 1960s and 70s, were influential in his upbringing, founding the Shri Venkateshwara temple in Penn Hills. He pursued a robust academic path, earning a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. During his studies and early career, Narasimhan dedicated himself to public health initiatives, addressing critical issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in various countries including India, Africa, and South America. His early work involved projects with the National HIV Treatment Program in Botswana, the American Red Cross in The Gambia, and efforts to combat child poverty in India, which shaped his commitment to improving global health.
Narasimhan’s corporate career began at McKinsey & Company as a consultant, before he joined Novartis in 2005. At Novartis, he ascended through various leadership roles, starting in Novartis Vaccines. Between 2012 and 2014, he served as the Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines in the US, later moving to Sandoz as Global Head of Biopharmaceuticals and Oncology Injectables in 2014. His trajectory continued with roles as Global Head of Development for Novartis Pharmaceuticals from 2014 to 2016, and then as Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer from 2016 to 2018. This progression provided him with extensive experience across research, development, and operational aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.
In 2018, Vas Narasimhan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Novartis, initiating a strategic and cultural transformation focused on creating a specialized medicines company. Under his leadership, Novartis has prioritized key therapeutic areas and technology platforms, including siRNA, radioligand, and gene and cell therapies, aimed at addressing significant disease burdens. He has spearheaded a digital revolution within the company, integrating data science and technology to enhance drug discovery, development, and operational efficiency. His tenure has also included major portfolio shifts, such as divesting the consumer healthcare venture to GSK, spinning off Alcon, and exiting a stake in Roche, while acquiring companies like Advanced Accelerator Applications, Endocyte, AveXis, and The Medicines Company to strengthen Novartis’s innovative medicines pipeline. He has also worked to address ethical challenges and past legal issues, implementing stricter governance and linking bonuses to ethical conduct.
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