Subhanu Saxena took up his role as CEO & Country President of Novartis Pharma UK in April 2005. Joining the UK from his previous position of Head of the Business Infectious Disease Business Franchise in Basle, Subhanu's previous experience at Novartis includes leading the Primary Care negotiation group for Novartis Pharma, during which time he and his team completed a number of significant transactions for Novartis including the acquisition of a majority stake in Idenix. Prior to this he worked in Novartis Consumer Health, where he led business development and licensing activities for nutrition.

Subhanu's previous work history has been with Citicorp, The Boston Consulting Group, and Pepsico, where he held various positions in finance, strategy, and business development. He has extensive international experience, having worked on projects in Asia and Africa, and he lived in Moscow for two years working on a turnaround assignment.

Subhanu speaks six languages and is a teacher of Sanskrit and ancient Indian literature and philosophy in his spare time. Subhanu has a degree in engineering from Oxford University and a M.B.A. from INSEAD. Subhanu originates from South London and now lives in Hampshire with his wife and two daughters, aged 14 and 12 years.