Daniel Vasella Biography

Since the merger that formed Novartis in 1996, Daniel Vasella, M.D., has served as Chief Executive Officer and an executive member of the Board of Directors. In 1999, he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Vasella has led Novartis through rapid development to become one of the world's most successful healthcare businesses, thanks to a business strategy built on a targeted diversification portfolio that includes pharmaceuticals, vaccines, generics, and consumer health. In addition, he has pioneered many projects to provide access to medications in the fields of malaria, cancer, and leprosy, among others, allocating 3% of net sales to these programs in 2009. Dr. Vasella serves on the boards of directors of PepsiCo Inc. in the United States and Alcon Inc. in Switzerland. He also serves on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Health Program Advisory Panel, as a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, China, and the International Board of Governors of the Peres Center for Peace in Israel. Dr. Vasella earned his M.D. from the University of Bern in 1979 and worked as a physician until joining Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation in 1988, where he served as CEO prior to the merger. Dr. Vasella has received several honors. He is also a Chevalier of the Ordre National de la Légion d'honneur (France). The University of Basel also conferred on him an honorary doctorate. Furthermore, Dr. Vasella was named the most important European businessman of the last quarter century in a Financial Times audience poll. Novartis has been named to the Ethisphere Institute's list of the world's most ethical businesses, Fortune magazine's list of the world's most regarded firms, and Barron's magazine's list of the world's most recognized companies during Dr. Vasella's term as Chairman and CEO. On January 26, 2010, the Company announced that the Board of Directors approved Dr. Daniel Vasella's request to complete the CEO succession process after 14 years as CEO and 11 years as Chairman and CEO by choosing Joe Jimenez, formerly Head of our Pharmaceuticals Division, as our new CEO. Dr. Vasella will continue as Chairman of the Novartis AG Board of Directors, focusing on strategic goals.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Daniel Vasella's expertise is in high demand. To book Daniel Vasella for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Daniel Vasella's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Daniel Vasella's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Daniel Vasella for your next speaking engagement.