Novartis hires Merck president to lead oncology
pharmafile | June 3, 2014 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Bruno Strigini, MSD, Merck, Novartis, oncology
Novartis has hired Merck’s president of Europe and Canada Bruno Strigini to be its president of oncology.
The role was being fulfilled on an interim basis by Alessandro Riva who runs the unit’s development and medical affairs – since the firm said at the beginning of the year that Hervé Hoppenot had resigned.
Strigini’s arrival seems timely given Novartis’ recent acquisition of GSK’s oncology franchise for $14.5 billion via a new joint venture – that sees the two firms swapping assets and merging business units.
Strigini who was Merck’s president for Europe and Canada, has 25 years of experience in pharma, animal health, OTC and vaccines in both international and local roles.
Previously he held senior positions in a number of companies such as Schering-Plough, UCB-Celltech and SmithKline Beecham, and he is a member of the Executive Committee for the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries & Associations (EFPIA).
Strigini’s career to date has seen him take on industry roles comprising: president of International Operations, president of Japan and Asia-Pacific, and senior VP and head of Global Marketing & Business Development, as well as managing director positions in New Zealand, the UK and Spain.
He takes on the role immediately and Novartis will be keen to see him make a big impact upon one of the firm’s most important franchises, following Hoppenot’s exit in January to pursue a chief executive position at Incyte .
Brett Wells
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