Novartis’ CEO Makes New Appointments to Executive Team

Novartis has announced changes to its senior leadership team to support the implementation of its strategic priorities as well as a change in structure to its business operations.

Bertrand Bodson, chief digital officer, Steffen Lang, global head Novartis technical operations, and Shannon Klinger, chief ethics, risk and compliance officer, have been appointed to the executive committee of Novartis (ECN). All changes are effective as of April 1, 2018.

André Wyss, President of Novartis Operations and Country President for Switzerland, has decided to step down from the ECN on April 1, 2018, to pursue a career outside of Novartis. As a result, Novartis Operations will be split into Novartis Technical Operations and Novartis Business Services. The Novartis Technical Operations and Quality operations span across more than 60 production and supply-chain sites.

Vas Narasimhan, who became CEO of Novartis on February 1, 2018, said the moves are intended to accelerate the company’s digital strategies. “We are making these changes to harness the full strength of Novartis as we build the leading medicines company, powered by data and digital,” he said in a company statement. The appointments of Bertrand Bodson, Steffen Lang and Shannon Klinger to the ECN will help us accelerate our efforts to lead in data and digital, increase our focus on operational execution, and reinforce our commitment to return more to society than we take.”

Lang will report directly to the chief executive officer and become a member of the ECN. Lang joined Novartis in 1994 and served as global head biologics technical development and manufacturing, and global head technical research & development prior to his current role.

Philippe Barrois will lead the Novartis Business Services organization ad interim. An internal and external search for a new head of Novartis Business Services has started. Matthias Leuenberger, delegate Novartis Switzerland, will assume the role of country president for Switzerland.

Bertrand Bodson will become a member of the ECN. He joined Novartis on January 1, 2018 and has begun to shape the new digital organization across Novartis, according to the company. Bodson has digital leadership experience, and experience in creating and implementing digital innovation and culture change across companies such as Sainsbury Argos, Amazon, and EMI Music.

Shannon Klinger will join the ECN and her role will be expanded to chief ethics, risk and compliance officer, allowing for an integrated approach to risk identification and management. Klinger joined Novartis in 2011, as general counsel, North America, Sandoz US. She was then appointed global head legal and general counsel for Sandoz, before assuming her current role of chief ethics and compliance officer and head of litigation.

Source: Novartis

 

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