U.S. CEO exits Novartis

Alex Gorsky has left the building. As Novartis' U.S. pharma CEO, Gorsky (photo) had been with the company four years; he's now "pursuing opportunities outside of the company."

Hmm. Just four months ago, Novartis shuffled its management deck, naming ex-private equity manager Joe Jiminez as worldwide pharma CEO. Jiminez had been on AstraZeneca's board and an exec at Heinz. And the company is in the midst of a $1.6 billion restructuring that will include 2,500 job cuts. CEO Dan Vasella (photo) has said that he wants to flatten out the company's org chart; he was appalled to discover six layers of management beneath him.

Was Gorsky one of those layers? The company isn't saying; in a message to Pharmalot, Novartis thanked him for his "strong leadership" and wished him well "in his new role," saying that his replacement "will be announced at a later date." Of course, Gorsky may have left of his own accord, and may pop up soon at a competitor. We'll have to watch and see where he lands.

- read the Pharmalot item

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