Novartis India Appoints Gira Sardesai as Independent Director
The Board of Novartis India Limited has approved the appointment of Gira Sardesai as an Additional Director (Non-Executive and Independent Director) for a period of five years, with effect from March 31, 2024. The Board has also approved the appointment of Christopher Snook as Non-Executive and Non-Independent Director for a period of four years, with effect from March 31, 2024. Both appointments are subject to the approval of the members. Jai Hiremath, Independent Director of the company, who shall be completing his second term on March 31, 2024, will subsequently step down.
Gira Sardesai, aged about 64, is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Sardesai was earlier associated with companies like Pidilite Industries, ICICI Bank, British Petroleum, and Johnson & Johnson. She is a dynamic and result-oriented finance professional with more than 35 years of experience across different industries and multiple geographies. She holds extensive hands-on experience in management and business leadership, with an established record of success in significantly growing enterprise value. She is a proven ‘people’s leader’ and holds the skills to effectively manage a large group of people and build highly competent teams to drive result delivery, the company said in a statement. She also exercises a high degree of discretion, mature judgement, and tact in handling issues of a sensitive nature.
Christopher Snook, aged about 70, recently served as Head of Group Country Management for Novartis International AG. Snook has over 38 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He joined Novartis in 2000, and during his long career in pharma, he served in multiple leadership capacities in various countries, including the UK, USA, Switzerland, Dubai, Singapore, China, and Japan. He also held leadership responsibilities at both the regional and global levels in various divisions of Novartis. Prior to joining Novartis, he was employed at Roche in various leadership positions. In 2019, he obtained his postgraduate certificate in Executive Directorship from Singapore Management University. He was appointed as the Director of the company, and presently he is the Chairman of the Board of the company. He also holds Board membership in Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) and Novartis (Bangladesh). He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Southampton University in the U.K.
