Novartis eliminates function of Swiss country president
Published: Wednesday, Nov 27th 2024, 11:00
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The pharmaceutical company Novartis is abolishing the position of Swiss Country President. The current incumbent Matthias Leuenberger will retire on December 1, 2024 and will not be replaced directly, as the Basel-based company confirmed a report in the NZZ newspaper on Wednesday.
Leuenberger's appointment in April 2018 was one of the first personnel decisions made by CEO Vas Narasimhan, who had taken up his post as Group CEO shortly beforehand. The role of Country President did not include any operational responsibilities; instead, his role consisted of maintaining an exchange with the Swiss public and, in particular, with government representatives at cantonal and national level.
According to Novartis, Lutz Hegemann, currently Head of the Global Health organization, will take over these responsibilities. As President, Global Health and Swiss Country Affairs, he will lead and represent Novartis to key stakeholders in his "home country and around the world, while also taking on the new responsibilities in Switzerland," the statement reads. In connection with this expanded role for Hegemann, the function of Swiss Country Head will be abolished.
According to Novartis, it has installed so-called Country Presidents in most of its international markets, who manage the commercial business in the respective country. In Switzerland, the business is managed by a separate Country General Manager, David Traub.
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