Novartis India, a Rs. 650 crore plus multinational pharma company, has appointed Jawed Zia as vice chairman and managing director with effect from March 1, 2018. He will succeed Ranjit Shahani who will hold this position until February 28, 2018. Ranjit Shahani joined Novartis Indian board during 2002.

Jawed Zia is currently head pharmaceuticals. He has a wealth of experience gained in various geographies and functions in the healthcare sector across the globe. Having joined Ciba-Geigy in 1987, he has had a successful career history working across pharmaceuticals, consumer health and devices in positions of increasing responsibility in various functions of market research, brand, management, marketing management, division management and area management in Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, Canada, Switzerland and now in India. He set up and led the Alcon business in India from 2004 to 2012; he moved to a regional role in Alcon in 2012 following which he jointed Novartis India in June 2014 as head pharmaceuticals.

Jawed Zia is a graduate in clinical pharmacology from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and holds an MBA from Trinity College, Dublin (Ireland).