Novartis today announced several important management changes at the level of the Board of Directors, Group Management, Business Divisions and Country Operations, initiating a new phase in building the company.

After long, distinguished careers, Wolfgang Samo and Alexandre Jetzer are retiring. Wolfgang Samo will be succeeded as Head of the Agribusiness division by Heinz Imhof, who will remain Head of Seeds and will become a member of the Novartis Executive Committee. Urs Bärlocher will take over responsibility for International Coordination from Alexandre Jetzer.

Regarding these and other changes, which will take effect on 1 June 1999, Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO, stated: “I wish to thank those who are leaving our company after many years of distinguished service, and wish every success to those who will take over new responsibilities. Their extensive experience in the company and in business will be critical in successfully managing the challenges ahead and in shaping the future of Novartis”.

Novartis Board of Directors: new committees established

At the annual shareholders’ meeting, two new members of the Board were elected: William George, Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, Inc., and Nobel laureate Rolf Zinkernagel. In its last session, the Board constituted three committees: the Chairman’s Committee, composed of Helmut Sihler, Hans-Jörg Rudloff, Heini Lippuner and Daniel Vasella (Chairman); the Audit Committee, with Helmut Sihler (Chairman), Birgit Breuel and Hans-Ulrich Doerig, and the Compensation Committee, with Robert Genillard, Hans-Jörg Rudloff, Helmut Sihler and Daniel
Vasella (Chairman).

Novartis Group Management
Heinz Imhof, currently Head of Seeds and Deputy Head of Agribusiness, who has a wealth of experience with Novartis in Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals and Country Operations, is appointed Head of Agribusiness and Member of the Group Executive Committee, replacing Wolfgang Samo. Urs Bärlocher, Head of Corporate Legal, Tax and Insurance, will take additional responsibility for
International Coordination, succeeding Alexandre Jetzer. Urs Bärlocher has broad experience, having held senior management positions in Pharmaceuticals and Nutrition, in the German and Austrian Country Operations, as well as in Corporate staff functions. Alexandre Jetzer will continue in his function as a member of the Board of Directors of Novartis AG, and will also support the company as a consultant in worldwide government affairs.

Novartis Divisions
In Agribusiness, John Atkin, currently COO of Crop Protection, will become CEO of Crop Protection, taking over this responsibility from Wolfgang Samo.

In Pharmaceuticals, James Shannon, currently worldwide Head of Project Management, is appointed global Head of Clinical Research and Development, reporting to Jörg Reinhardt. Geoff Nichol, currently Head of US Medical Affairs, succeeds James Shannon as worldwide Head of Project Management.

In Consumer Health, Peter Jensen joins Nova rtis as Head of Product Supply Management, reporting to Thomas Ebeling. Peter Jensen was previously with the Kellogg Company, where he had a highly successful career in a wide range of senior positions with particular emphasis on supply chain management and customer service for consumer goods. Nicholaas Sieben, previously with Merck Sharp & Dohme and, more recently, the publisher Wolters Kluwer, joins Novartis Consumer Health as Head of Legal.

Novartis Country Organizations
Terry Barnett, who is currently Country President, China, is nominated Country President, Novartis USA, succeeding Douglas Watson, who will retire after 32 years with the company. Paul Lau, currently Pharmaceuticals Sector Head, China, will take over as Country Head in China.

Novartis is a world leader in Life Sciences with core businesses in Healthcare, Agribusiness and Consumer Health. In 1998, Novartis group sales were CHF 31.7 billion, of which CHF 17.5 billion were in Healthcare, CHF 8.4 billion in Agribusiness and CHF 5.8 billion in Consumer Health. The group annually invests more than CHF 3.7 billion in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 82 000 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world.

Company news release
N1836