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Function at Novartis AG Since 1996 Dr. Vasella has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Group and as executive member of the Board of Directors. In 1999, he additionally was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Other activities Dr. Vasella is a member of the Board of Directors of Pepsico, Inc.*, United States, a member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors at the Harvard Business School, and a member of the INSEAD Board of Directors. Dr. Vasella is also a member of the International Board of Governors of the Peres Center for Peace in Israel and a member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. In addition, he serves as a member of several industry associations and educational institutions.
Professional background Dr. Vasella graduated with an M.D. from the University of Bern in 1979. After holding a number of medical positions in Switzerland, he joined Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the US in 1988. From 1993 to 1995, Dr. Vasella advanced from Head of Corporate Marketing to Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Development to Chief Operating Officer of Sandoz Pharma Ltd. In 1995 and 1996, Dr. Vasella was a member of the Sandoz Group Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz Pharma Ltd. He received the Harvard Business School’s Alumni Achievement Award and the Appeal of Conscience Award as well as the AJ Congress Humanitarian Award and numerous other awards. Dr. Vasella was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Basel. He has also been honored with the Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazil) and holds the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur (France). | 