Pharmaceuticals
10 Novartis AI and data science leaders
These ten current and former Novartis AI and data science leaders have held director-level AI, machine learning or data science roles at Novartis. A reader can learn how AI and data science leaders work at Novartis from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Ahsan Huda, PhD
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Head of AI & Platforms · Novartis
Vice President, Head of AI & Platforms at Novartis since 2026 and former Vice President, Head of Data, Analytics & AI Products at Novartis (2025–2026). Ahsan was also Vice President - AI Innovation and Product Development (2024–2025), Head of Data Science and AI/ML Center of Excellence (2022–2024) and Senior Director, Data Science, AI Insights (2020–2022) at Pfizer.
John Chan
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of Digital, Informatics and AI, Biomedical Research · Novartis
Global Head of Digital, Informatics and AI, Biomedical Research at Novartis since 2025. John was also Head, ShinrAI Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (2022–2025) and Head of Data Strategy, Cell Therapy (2021–2022) at Takeda, and Executive Director, Head of Informatics and Technology, and Program Innovation at Novartis (2010–2017).
Karim Azer
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of Data & AI · Novartis
Global Head of Data & AI at Novartis since 2024, a role the profile says expanded to developing and applying data and AI technologies in clinical development across all development units. Karim has also chaired the Bioengineering Industrial Advisory Board at Northeastern University since 2025 and has been a part-time adjunct professor there since 2024.
Marc Díaz-Aguiló
LinkedInExperience: Head of AI and Data Science · Novartis
Head of AI and Data Science at Novartis since 2025; the profile says Marc leads AI and data science for Novartis International. At Novartis, Marc was also Chief of Innovation, Data, Digital, Business Excellence & Customer Engagement ad interim (2025) and Head of Customer Data & Analytics (2023–2025), and was Head of Data Science & Analytics at TUI (2019–2021).
Rodrigo Kenji Shiramizu
LinkedInExperience: Director of AI & Data Science · Novartis
Director of AI & Data Science at Novartis since 2026, a role the profile describes as leading international AI and data science initiatives across the top 10 countries. At Novartis, Rodrigo was also Data Science and Solutions Sr Manager (2025–2026), Reporting and Data Foundation Sr Manager (2020–2025) and FP&A BPA Manager (2018–2020), and the profile places Rodrigo in São Paulo.
Sander Timmer, PhD
LinkedInExperience: Head of AI and Data Science - Global Drug Development · Novartis
Head of AI and Data Science - Global Drug Development at Novartis since 2026, a role the profile places in Basel. Sander was also Global Senior Director, Forward Deployed AI Engineering & Decision Sciences (2025–2026), Global Senior Director of AI/ML & Decision Sciences (2022–2025) and Global Director of Analytics & AI - GSK Vaccines (2019–2022) at GSK.
Srayanta Mukherjee
LinkedInExperience: Head of Artificial Intelligence · Novartis Institute For Biomedical Research
Head of Artificial Intelligence at Novartis Institute For Biomedical Research since 2025; the profile headline describes the role as head of AI for research in Biomedical Research. Srayanta was also Director & Head, MRL&G (2023) and Director Data Science (2020–2023) at Novartis, and Lead and Principal Data Scientist at BCG X (2023–2025).
Stan Tsvirko
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Functional AI and Process. General Management · Novartis
Executive Director Functional AI and Process, General Management at Novartis since 2026, a role the profile describes as setting AI strategy for US General Management. At Novartis, Stan was also Executive Director - Data, Analytics and AI Products (2025–2026), Executive Director, Head Medical Intelligence and Technology (2022–2025) and Head, Medical Affairs Innovation Lab (2021–2022).
Thirupathi Pattipaka
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director, AI and Innovation · Novartis
Executive Director, AI and Innovation at Novartis since 2026, a role the profile describes as building an enterprise AI capability across Medical Affairs. At Novartis, Thirupathi was also Head, DataScience & AI (2023–2025), Director, Oncology RWE & Data Science (2020–2023) and Associate Director, Clinical Insights (2019–2020).
Zahra Heidary, Ph.D.
LinkedInExperience: Head of Data Science, AI and Innovation, Executive Director · Novartis
Head of Data Science, AI and Innovation, Executive Director at Novartis since 2023 and former Director Data Science AI & Innovation at Novartis (2020–2022). Zahra was also Head of AI and Data Science, Center of Excellence at Mondelēz International (2022–2023) and Associate Director, Data Science at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.) (2020–2021).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's area to your question, since AI in biomedical research, AI in drug development, AI for medical affairs and AI for commercial teams in country markets are different jobs. Check whether the relevant role is current and which part of the business it supports.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a large drugmaker organize AI teams between research, development and commercial groups?
- 02What does it take to build an AI capability inside a function such as medical affairs?
- 03How do AI leaders decide which platforms to build centrally and which to leave to individual teams?
Reaching Novartis AI and data science leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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