Novartis OTC (Over-the-Counter) to become separate division in the group's diversified healthcare portfolio with Kelman reporting to Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis

Basel, February 17, 2011 - Novartis announced that effective March 2, 2011 Naomi Kelman is appointed Head of the Novartis OTC Division and will become a permanent attendee to the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN), reporting to Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis.  

Kelman joins Novartis from Johnson & Johnson where she has held several leadership roles within both the Consumer and Medical Device and Diagnostic Sectors. Her successful leadership across several businesses has demonstrated a strong focus on innovation, which in turn delivered strong financial results.

"With the upcoming Alcon merger, we have decided to put additional focus on two important businesses which today comprise the Consumer Health Division: OTC and Animal Health, by streamlining and simplifying our decision making process," said Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis. "We look forward to Naomi joining our leadership team - her experience in consumer businesses, combined with her drive for results make her well suited to run our OTC business. George Gunn's extensive experience in Animal Health will increase the focus and growth prospects for this business."   

The Novartis OTC and Animal Health businesses will become separate Novartis divisions, in addition to the Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz (generics), Vaccines & Diagnostics Divisions. As previously announced, following the completion of the merger between Novartis and Alcon, CIBA Vision and Novartis ophthalmic medicines will be merged into the new Alcon eye care Division of Novartis. Until the close of the Alcon transaction, George Gunn will continue to manage the CIBA Vision business. Gunn will remain a member of the ECN in his new role as Head of Animal Health and, on March 2, 2011, will additionally become responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility for Novartis (CSR), elevating CSR to the Executive Committee level.

 
For financial reporting purposes, the Novartis OTC and Novartis Animal Health businesses will continue to be communicated under the umbrella of Novartis Consumer Health. Financial proformas of the new Consumer Health and Alcon divisions (including CIBA Vision and Novartis ophthalmic medicines) will be published following the merger with Alcon. Until then the existing segmental presentation of financial results will continue.


About Novartis

Novartis provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2010, the Group's continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 50.6 billion, while approximately USD 9.1 billion (USD 8.1 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 119,000 full-time-equivalent associates (including 16,700 Alcon associates) and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.