Novartis has announced the appointment of Mukul Mehta as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN), effective March 16, 2026.

Mehta will succeed Harry Kirsch, who will retire from the company following a remarkable 22-year tenure. Kirsch will continue to serve as CFO and ECN member until March 15, 2026, ensuring a smooth transition.

Mehta, who brings over 20 years of experience at Novartis, has held key finance leadership roles across geographies and business units. He was recently appointed to the role of Head of BPA, Digital Finance and Tax, where he will continue until March 2026.

Mehta’s career includes key positions such as CFO International, ad-interim President International, CFO Pharmaceuticals business unit, CFO Novartis Business Services, CFO Pharmaceuticals Europe business, and Country CFO of France, Poland, and Norway.

He holds a degree in Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in India and an MBA from INSEAD France.

Commenting on his appointment, Mehta said, “I am honored to take on the role of CFO at Novartis. I’ve had the privilege of growing with this company and working alongside exceptional colleagues. I look forward to continuing our journey as a focused medicines company and delivering sustainable value for patients and shareholders.”

Reflecting on his journey at Novartis, Kirsch said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve Novartis for the past 22 years. I am proud of the transformation we’ve led - from streamlining the company from six divisions to three, to the successful spinoffs of Alcon and Sandoz, and the divestitures of our stakes in the consumer healthcare joint venture with GSK and in Roche. Together, we’ve built a truly focused medicines company. I leave with deep gratitude for the teams I’ve worked with and have full confidence in Mukul’s leadership.”

Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, expressed appreciation for Kirsch and enthusiasm for Mehta’s appointment.

He said,“Harry’s impact on Novartis has been profound. He played a pivotal role in driving what has so far been one of our strongest periods of growth and strategic transformation. Under Harry’s leadership, the company’s financial performance has significantly improved as evidenced by our strong balance sheet, improved core operating income margin, and robust free cash flow. I thank him for his unwavering commitment and wish him the very best in his next chapter.”

“I am also looking forward to welcoming Mukul to the ECN. His deep knowledge of our business, strong financial expertise, and collaborative style position him well to guide our financial strategy and finance organization through our next phase of growth.”