Novartis announces leadership changes, Alcon restructuring

Swiss pharma major Novartis (NOVN: VX), along with its financial results (see separate story) this morning, announced a major changes for its underperforming ophthalmic business Alcon, as well as some senior management appointments.

Mike Ball has been appointed division head and chief executive of Alcon, effective February 1, 2016. Mr Ball will be a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN). He joins Novartis from Hospira, where he was CEO from 2011 until recently. Prior to Hospira, he spent five years as president of Allergan, where he held a series of leadership positions over 16 years with the company. Mr Ball succeeds Jeff George, who has decided to leave Novartis.

Also, Vas Narasimhan has been appointed global head drug development and chief medical officer, a new position in the ECN. In this position, Dr Narasimhan will have functional oversight for drug development for General Medicines, Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals, Oncology and Biosimilars and will create a stronger collaboration across these units.

Andre Wyss, already a member of the ECN, head Novartis Business Services (NBS) and country president for Switzerland, has been appointed president, Novartis Operations. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for the integrated Technical Operations organization as well as for Global Public & Government Affairs, in addition to his current responsibilities.