Vas Narasimhan

Vas Narasimhan
Narasimhan in 2022 (or earlier)
Vas Narasimhan
Born	Vasant Kalathur Narasimhan 26 8, 1976
Birthplace	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Pharmaceutical executive, physician
Title	Chief Executive Officer of Novartis
Education	Harvard Medical School (M.D.) John F. Kennedy School of Government (M.P.P.) University of Chicago (B.S.)
Children	2
Awards	Fortune 40 Under 40 (2015), TIME100 Health (2025)
Website	[https://www.novartis.com/about/executive-committee/vasant-narasimhan Official site]

Vasant Kalathur "Vas" Narasimhan (born August 26, 1976) is an American physician and business executive who serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Novartis, the Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents of Indian origin, Narasimhan trained as a medical doctor at Harvard Medical School and earned a master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government before entering the pharmaceutical industry. He joined Novartis in 2005 after a brief stint at McKinsey & Company and rose through a series of leadership positions, including Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines and Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. In September 2017, Novartis announced that Narasimhan would succeed Joseph Jimenez as CEO, a transition that took effect on February 1, 2018. At the age of 41, he became one of the youngest CEOs in the history of the global pharmaceutical industry. Under his leadership, Novartis has refocused on prescription medicines and research-and-development-driven growth, divesting several business units and pursuing major acquisitions. In 2025, his name appeared on the TIME100 Health list for his contributions to global medicine and the pharmaceutical sector.

Early Life

Vasant Kalathur Narasimhan was born on August 26, 1976, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were immigrants from India, and Narasimhan is of Indian American heritage. His upbringing in a family with roots in India shaped an early awareness of global health disparities, a theme that would recur throughout his career. As a young physician-scientist, Narasimhan worked on programs aimed at treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, an experience that exposed him to the impact pharmaceutical intervention could have in resource-limited settings.

Narasimhan grew up in the United States and pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences. His early academic interests drew him toward both the sciences and public policy, foreshadowing a career that would bridge clinical medicine, global health, and corporate leadership.

Education

Narasimhan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. He then enrolled at Harvard Medical School, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Concurrently, he pursued a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, reflecting his dual interest in medical science and health policy. His combined medical and policy training at Harvard provided a foundation for his later work in drug development, global public health, and pharmaceutical strategy. During his time at Harvard, Narasimhan was involved in research relating to infectious diseases in developing countries; a 2004 study on which he was a co-author was published in The Lancet, examining issues related to global health interventions.

In September 2025, Narasimhan returned to Harvard Business School as a guest speaker for the institution's MS/MBA program, where he discussed analytics, artificial intelligence, and pharmaceutical leadership.

Career

McKinsey & Company

After completing his medical and public policy degrees at Harvard, Narasimhan worked briefly as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm. His time at McKinsey provided experience in corporate strategy and organizational management. The stint was short-lived, however, as Narasimhan transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry when he joined Novartis in 2005.

Early Career at Novartis (2005–2014)

Narasimhan joined Novartis in 2005 and held a succession of leadership roles across the company's global operations. Among his early positions, he served as Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines, overseeing the development pipeline for the company's vaccine division. In this capacity, he was responsible for advancing vaccine candidates through clinical trials and regulatory processes. His background in both medicine and public policy made him a distinctive figure within the company's leadership, as he brought a clinical and policy perspective to business decision-making.

During this period, Narasimhan gained exposure to multiple therapeutic areas and geographies within the Novartis organization, building the cross-functional experience that would later be cited as a factor in his selection as CEO.

Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Narasimhan served as Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Novartis. In this role, he oversaw the company's entire drug development portfolio and was responsible for clinical trial operations, regulatory strategy, and medical affairs across all Novartis divisions. The position placed him at the center of the company's research-and-development apparatus, providing him with deep knowledge of the pipeline that would become central to his strategic vision as CEO.

In 2015, while serving in this role, Narasimhan was named to Fortune magazine's annual "40 Under 40" list, which recognized him as one of the most influential young leaders in business. He was ranked number seven on the list.

Appointment as CEO

On September 4, 2017, Novartis announced that Narasimhan would succeed Joseph Jimenez as chief executive officer, effective February 1, 2018. The announcement was covered extensively in international business media, with outlets noting that Narasimhan, at 41, would be among the youngest chief executives in the history of the major pharmaceutical industry. The selection of a physician-scientist with a public policy background, rather than a finance or commercial executive, was interpreted by industry observers as a signal of Novartis's intent to prioritize research and development under its new leadership.

Narasimhan formally assumed the CEO role on February 1, 2018. In early interviews after taking office, he articulated a vision of transforming Novartis into a more focused, data-driven medicines company. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal in February 2018, Narasimhan described his intention to steer the company back toward R&D-led growth, investing in breakthrough therapies and using data science and advanced analytics to improve drug development productivity.

Strategic Direction as CEO

Under Narasimhan's leadership, Novartis undertook a series of major strategic moves designed to refocus the company on its core pharmaceuticals business. The company divested or spun off several non-core assets, including its consumer healthcare joint venture with GlaxoSmithKline and its eye care division, Alcon, which was spun off as an independent company. These moves were consistent with Narasimhan's stated strategy of concentrating resources on innovative medicines.

Narasimhan also emphasized the integration of technology and data analytics into Novartis operations. In a 2018 interview with the Economic Times of India, he discussed the potential of digital health and data-driven approaches in the Indian healthcare context, noting what he described as an "explosion of data digital opportunities in Indian healthcare." In 2019, he sat for an interview with The New York Times as part of its "Corner Office" series, in which he discussed his management philosophy and approach to leading a multinational corporation.

In September 2025, speaking at Harvard Business School, Narasimhan discussed his approach to artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical context. He described himself as drawn to analytics but expressed what was characterized as "grounded expectations" for AI's near-term impact on drug development, suggesting a measured rather than hyperbolic view of the technology's applications.

Acquisitions and Pipeline Expansion

A significant element of Narasimhan's tenure has been a series of acquisitions aimed at expanding the Novartis pipeline and strengthening its position in key therapeutic areas. In November 2025, Novartis completed the acquisition of Avidity Biosciences, a deal that represented the second-largest pharmaceutical acquisition of 2025. Narasimhan stated that the acquisition was aimed at making Novartis "a leader in neuromuscular diseases," a therapeutic area of growing importance. Commenting on the transaction, Narasimhan indicated that the strategic rationale was more important than the price paid.

Financial Performance and Compensation

Under Narasimhan's leadership, Novartis reported what was described as record-breaking performance in 2025. His realized compensation for 2025 reached 24.9 million Swiss francs (approximately $32.4 million), representing a 30% increase over the prior year, according to company disclosures covered by Fierce Pharma.

Looking ahead to 2026, Narasimhan projected continued growth despite what he described as "the largest patent expiry" in the company's history. In fourth-quarter 2025 earnings discussions, he outlined strategies intended to offset patent losses through new product launches and pipeline advancement.

U.S. Investment and Government Relations

In January 2026, Narasimhan spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he discussed drug pricing, trade, and employment. He stated that Novartis had "future-proofed" against trade tensions through a $23 billion investment in the United States.

In October 2025, Narasimhan confirmed that Novartis was in weekly discussions with the Trump administration regarding drug pricing, though he noted that a deal had not yet been reached. He expressed the view that the administration's existing drug pricing proposals did not address what he characterized as the root problem in pharmaceutical pricing in the United States.

On February 20, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he had met with Narasimhan at the White House, announcing that Novartis was building 11 plants in the United States. The meeting reflected the broader engagement between major pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. government on issues of domestic manufacturing and drug pricing.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Narasimhan navigated Novartis through the global health crisis. In March 2020, the BBC reported on Narasimhan's leadership of the company during the early stages of the pandemic, as Novartis explored potential treatments and managed the operational challenges posed by the crisis.

Public Health Advocacy

Narasimhan has been involved in public health discussions beyond his corporate role. He has contributed to the World Economic Forum's agenda on healthcare and has been listed among the Forum's agenda contributors. He was also involved in a 2019 initiative associated with Harvard Law School's Center on the Legal Profession that examined issues related to pharmaceutical innovation and global health access, as documented in a report titled "Bending the Curve of Life."

His early career experience working on HIV/AIDS programs in Africa has been cited as formative in shaping his perspective on the pharmaceutical industry's role in addressing global health needs.

Personal Life

Narasimhan married Srishti Gupta, and the couple's wedding was documented in The New York Times Weddings section in March 2003. They have two children.

Narasimhan is of Indian American heritage, born to Indian immigrant parents who settled in Pittsburgh. He has spoken publicly about his background and its influence on his worldview, particularly regarding global health equity. He resides in Basel, Switzerland, where Novartis is headquartered.

Recognition

Narasimhan has received several notable recognitions over the course of his career:

• In 2015, Fortune magazine named him to its "40 Under 40" list at number seven, recognizing his role as Global Head of Drug Development and CMO at Novartis.
• In 2025, he was named to the TIME100 Health list by Time magazine, which recognized his contributions to global health and the pharmaceutical industry. The Time profile noted his early career work on HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Africa.
• He has been profiled by Pharmaceutical Executive magazine.
• He has been featured in the New York Times "Corner Office" series, which profiles prominent business leaders.
• He has served as a contributor to the World Economic Forum's agenda on healthcare topics.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Narasimhan has led Novartis for more than eight years, a period during which the company has undergone significant strategic transformation. His tenure has been defined by a refocusing of Novartis on its core pharmaceuticals business, the divestiture of non-core assets, an emphasis on data science and advanced analytics, and a series of acquisitions intended to expand the company's pipeline in areas such as neuromuscular diseases and other therapeutic areas.

His appointment in 2017 was notable in the pharmaceutical industry for several reasons: his relatively young age, his background as a physician and public policy specialist rather than a finance executive, and his Indian American heritage in an industry whose top corporate positions have historically been held predominantly by individuals of European descent.

Under Narasimhan, Novartis made substantial investments in U.S.-based manufacturing, totaling $23 billion as of early 2026, a strategy he described as "future-proofing" the company against geopolitical trade tensions. His approach to drug pricing—including his public statements that existing U.S. policy proposals did not address root causes of high pharmaceutical prices—has positioned him as a participant in ongoing debates over the cost of medicines in the United States.

Narasimhan's emphasis on combining clinical science with data analytics and technology has reflected broader trends in the pharmaceutical industry toward digitization and artificial intelligence-assisted drug development, though he has maintained what observers have characterized as a measured perspective on the near-term capabilities of these technologies.