Leadership changes at the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development

Professor Klaus M. Leisinger is stepping down as Chairman of the Board of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD). Dr. Ann Aerts was named Head of the NFSD earlier this year and runs the foundation.

“We sincerely thank Prof. Leisinger for his vision and dedication over the past 30 years, which has helped Novartis become a global leader in corporate responsibility. For decades, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development has worked to improve access to quality healthcare for people in underserved communities. NFSD has established leadership positions in both field and policy work, making it unique in the industry. In particular, the foundation has contributed significantly to efforts to eliminate leprosy, widely considered a public health success”.

Novartis is committed to improving global health and the work of the foundation will continue under the strong leadership Ann Aerts with support from the NFSD Board.

Dr. Andrin Oswald, Division Head, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and member of the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN) will take an additional role as Chairman of the Board overseeing NFSD. In addition to Dr. Oswald, the NFSD Board includes two other ECN members: George Gunn, Head, Novartis Animal Health and Corporate Responsibility and Juergen Brokatzky-Geiger, Head Human Resources. Prof. Dr. Jean-Marie Lehn and Dr. Aerts are also members. Mr. Alexandre Jetzer-Chung also steps down from the NFSD Board. The NFSD Board meets annually to provide oversight of the strategic direction. NFSD plays a central role in the corporate responsibility portfolio of Novartis.