Our People

Paths to success

Professor Moise Azria has spent more than 30 years as a research and development scientist at Novartis. Among dozens of projects he’s worked on over the years, three medicines ultimately reached the market, including Miacalcic nasal spray, used to treat bone disorders such as osteoporosis. After devoting several years to each successful project, Professor Azria moved on to new opportunities inside the company.

As cross-functional teams become more common throughout the company, diverse backgrounds and experience are increasingly important for senior executives. Ann Bailey had worked in Consumer Health, Technical Operations and launched the Pharmaceutical Division’s IQP (Innovation, Quality, Productivity) initiative before being named Head of Corporate Communications in 2005.

Maeve Devlin joined a predecessor company of Novartis in conjunction with construction of a new manufacturing plant in Ringaskiddy, Ireland. A decade later, she transferred to Switzerland – initially as head of multipurpose production, but since 2004 as Head of Chemical Operations Switzerland – a post carrying responsibility for four key production sites.

Mercedes Echauri began her career with Novartis in her native Spain as a regulatory affairs specialist – but moved to Munich, Germany, in 2002 as Head of Business Development and Licensing for the Pharmaceutical Division’s European Office. In 2005, Ms. Echauri returned to Spain as Head of Partnering and Market Access for the new Emerging Growth Markets organization.

Despite the emphasis on internal succession, there is still ample opportunity at Novartis for external hires. Ludwig Hantson joined Novartis in 2001, as Head of Commercial Development at the Pharmaceuticals Division. Then, in a succession of positions outlined in Organization and Talent Review (OTR) discussions, Mr. Hantson became head of the Neuroscience Business Franchise, then Head of Pharma at Novartis Canada, before assuming his current position, Head of Region Europe for the Pharmaceuticals Division, at the beginning of 2005.

At the Consumer Health Division mentoring has been a career springboard for female executives who head US operations for three of the Division’s five Business Units. Karen Gough, US Head of CIBA Vision, Jan Coneely, US Head of Medical Nutrition, and Diane Jacobs, US Head of the Gerber Business Unit, participate actively as mentors today in programs targeting the next generation of leaders in their respective Business Units. Andrea Saia, a native of the US and alumna of the Consumer Health mentoring program, crossed the Atlantic in 2005 as new Head of CIBA Vision’s operations in Europe.