Vasant "Vas" Narasimhan (born August 26, 1976) is an American physician and executive who serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Novartis, a multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. A prominent figure in the global pharmaceutical industry, he is recognized for leading the company’s strategic transformation into a focused, innovative medicines business, with an emphasis on advanced technology platforms and global health access. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents who immigrated to the United States from Tamil Nadu, India, in the 1960s and early 1970s, Narasimhan developed an interest in science and medicine early in life. His upbringing in a family of professionals—his mother was a nuclear engineer and his father was a business executive—influenced his trajectory toward STEM fields. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. He subsequently attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his M.D., and obtained a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. During his education and early career, Narasimhan actively worked on public health initiatives, including programs focused on HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in India, Africa, and South America. Before joining Novartis, Narasimhan worked as a consultant and engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. He joined Novartis in 2005 and steadily ascended through the company’s leadership ranks, holding various positions across commercial, drug development, and strategy units. His roles included Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines, Global Head of Biopharmaceuticals and Oncology Injectables at Sandoz, and ultimately, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. In September 2017, Novartis announced that Narasimhan would succeed Joseph Jimenez as CEO, effective February 1, 2018. Upon assuming the role, he initiated a significant strategic pivot, aiming to streamline the company into a "pure-play" innovative medicines organization. Under his leadership, Novartis has divested non-core assets, including the spin-off of its generics and biosimilars division, Sandoz, to sharpen the company's focus on high-value therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular disease, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology. A central component of his tenure has been the aggressive integration of data science, digital technology, and advanced therapy platforms—including cell and gene therapies, radioligand therapy, and RNA therapeutics—to accelerate drug discovery and development. Beyond his executive duties, Narasimhan is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and has served on the board of directors for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). He also serves on the board of fellows at Harvard Medical School and the board of trustees at the University of Chicago. He has consistently championed initiatives to expand access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries, integrating global health priorities into the company's operational model. Narasimhan resides in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife, Srishti Gupta, whom he met while they were both studying at Harvard. They have two sons. Outside of his professional life, he is known for a lifestyle that includes a vegetarian diet and interests in history, philosophy, and environmental conservation, notably serving as the chair of the board for African Parks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation.