New Country President at Novartis Hungary

Colette Matz takes over from Matt Zeller as Country President of Novartis Hungary in March 2024. The new leader brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she was Head of the Neuroscience Therapeutic Area at the Swiss company's Italian affiliate, the company has announced.

Colette Matz has had a distinguished career of more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry – most of it in the US – with a focus on multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. She holds a degree in Health Care Administration and Management from the University of Scranton, USA.

"I am fortunate to be joining a proven team that is well respected by our partners. I look forward to continuing our existing collaborations with government, academia, healthcare providers, and professional and patient organizations, as well as building new initiatives that can make a difference in public health in Hungary," Colette Matz said.

One of her key objectives will be to consolidate the international position of Swiss-based Novartis Hungary as a major regional coordinating center for clinical research and drug development, a role the Hungarian subsidiary has held since last year. The innovative pharmaceutical company invests HUF billions annually in Hungary, much of it in clinical research. These programs not only train participating Hungarian doctors and nurses in the latest therapies, but have also provided more than 10,000 Hungarian patients with access to the world's most advanced treatments in a wide range of fields over the past decade.

By 2027, Novartis plans to launch more than 15 new therapies worldwide. These therapies will build on the company's strong positions in core therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, neuroscience, immunology and oncology.

"Together with our partners in Hungary, we will continue to drive innovation to make new treatments not only available in Hungary, but also to reach patients who have not yet found effective therapeutic solutions," Colette Matz added.