Novartis' OTC head Brian McNamara to play key role in GSK/Novartis new joint venture

BASEL, Switzerland — Following the completion of a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis' consumer health units, Brian McNamara, currently division head, Novartis OTC, will transition to GSK as Head of Americas and Europe for the consumer health businesses, reporting to the president of GSK Consumer Healthcare, effective at closing of the transaction, Novartis announced last week.

 

McNamara is one of three Novartis executives who will be leaving Novartis' executive committee, the company announced. With the sale of its vaccines business to GSK, Andrin Oswald, currently division head, Novartis Vaccines, will be leaving to pursue other opportunities. That deal, along with the proposed joint venture between GSK and Novartis' consumer units, is expected to close in the first half of 2015.

 

George Gunn, currently division head, Novartis Animal Health, will reach his contractual retirement age in July 2015 and will retire from Novartis upon closing of the Animal Health transaction with Eli Lilly. That transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015.