Novartis appoints Matt Zeller from European leadership to Country President of ANZ

Novartis has announced the appointment of Matt Zeller as the new Country President of Novartis Australia and New Zealand, effective December 1. Mr Zeller currently serves as the Country President of Novartis Europe Central Cluster and Hungary. The news comes following the recent appointment of Richard Tew to the role of Head, Customer and Market Activation within the International Commercial and Launch Strategy Division, reinforcing the company’s dedication to strategic development.

Mr Zeller’s was a shortlisted nominee for the Expat CEO of the Year award earlier this year. In reflecting on his tenure in Hungary, he stated, “My family and I took a risk coming to Budapest, and this recognition is one symbol that the risk was worth it: that my three years here have made a positive impact on patients. Hungary is not an easy market to work in, but during my years here, I’ve met so many people who are passionate about the same goal: improving the health and lives of Hungarians. Change is possible. If we work together, I remain optimistic about the future because, in the end, nothing is more important than our health, and Hungarians need our help. I hope that my being shortlisted means that the community sees this aim as the right one, and hopefully, while I’m here, I’ve helped Hungary to make positive steps in that direction.”

His journey at Novartis began in 2014 when he joined as the Director of Global Pharma Strategy in Switzerland. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles within the company, including Head of the Cardiovascular National Hospital team, Vice President of Patient and Specialty Services, and COPD Franchise Head in the United States. His diverse background includes previous roles as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in China and New Jersey, work with a non-profit organisation in Argentina, and a career as a neuroscience sales representative for Eli Lilly. Prior to his pharmaceutical career, he even ventured into professional baseball, which was cut short by a career-ending ankle injury.

Mr Zeller’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University. In early 2024, he will be relocating to Australia with his wife and two children to take up his new role.

During his tenure, outgoing Country President Richard Tew has played a pivotal role in expanding access to treatment options, particularly for infants diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, exemplifying Novartis’ unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare. Mr Tew expressed his admiration for the company’s dedication, stating, “I remain inspired by the energy, passion, and focus that our entire organisation brings to work every day as we strive to bring innovative treatments to patients across cardiovascular, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience therapeutic areas.”

Mr Tew’s time in office has also been marked by the Novartis team’s unwavering resilience in navigating the complex external policy and access landscape. He emphasised the significance of this resilience, stating, “Every moment matters for patients across Australia and New Zealand, and I am confident that Novartis will continue to break new ground to reshape healthcare systems and accelerate access to medicines.”

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