Indian origin Harvard doctor to become Novartis CEO - NRI Achievers

Vasant Narasimhan, 41, chief medical officer and global head of drug development at Novartis will take over as the CEO of Europe's largest drugmaker after the company announced the surprise departure of CEO Joseph Jimenez after eight years at the helm.

According to the press release by the pharma giant Novartis, 41-year-old Vasant Narasimhan, who is currently working as a Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Development of Drugs in Novartis, is all set to become the next CEO of the European pharma company.

The move came after the company surprisingly announced the departure of current CEO Joseph Jimenez. Narasimhan will be taking charge of the post from February 1, confirmed the company.

With this post, Narasimhan has also become the youngest CEO of any pharma company working at the global front. Before him, 48-year-old Emma Walmsley became the first and only women chief of the pharma company after she took charge of the CEO of another giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Narasimhan has also worked for McKinsey, before joining Novartis in 2005. Pass Out of Harvard Medical School, Narasimhan received his Master’s degree from John F Kennedy School of Government of Harvard. He is also an bachelor alumni of the University of Chicago.

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