Vas Narasimhan

Vasant Narasimhan stepped into the role of CEO at Novartis in 2017, bringing a renewed focus to the pharmaceutical company. Under his leadership, Novartis made key acquisitions, including Advanced Accelerator Applications, Endocyte, AveXis, and The Medicines Company, pushing the company deeper into the realm of nuclear medicine. Narasimhan's strategic approach led to the spin-off of Alcon, further solidifying Novartis as a pure-play medicines company. Narasimhan's leadership extended beyond corporate restructuring, with a personal commitment to innovative drug development, seen in Novartis's expanded research in gene therapies and RNA treatments.

Outside of his role at Novartis, Narasimhan has engaged with numerous prestigious organizations. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Chicago and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and the Council of Foreign Relations. As a member of the Board of Fellows of Harvard Medical School, and the chair of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), his influence extends across academia and the pharmaceutical industry. His commitment to global health is exemplified by his volunteer work with the Red Cross in Gambia during his college years to help control malaria.

In recognition of his contributions, Narasimhan has received numerous accolades. His strategic vision and leadership earned him the 7th spot in Fortune's '40 under 40' list in 2015 and a place among the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health in 2025. Narasimhan's expertise is frequently sought after, evidenced by his numerous appearances as a key speaker at industry and global health events, including the World Economic Forum. His written work, including co-authored publications in prestigious medical journals like "Responding to the global human resources crisis" in The Lancet, further underscores his standing in the medical and pharmaceutical field.