Assembling the Sandoz Jigsaw: Part A

Assembling the Sandoz Jigsaw: Part A

In 2022, Novartis decided to spin off its generics and biosimilars division into an independent company, Sandoz. This required building a new organisation and governance system from the ground up. The case recounts how the Swiss corporation went about forming a board of directors for Sandoz, including the search for an independent, purpose-driven chair to guide the transformation.
Set in a challenging pharmaceutical industry context, “Assembling the Sandoz Jigsaw (Part A)” highlights the strategic, organizational and human dimensions of creating – from scratch – an effective board for a mission-driven company following a major spin off.

The case study is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion to address the following issues:
• What constitutes a good governance system for a complex public company
• What makes for an effective board and how do you build such a board
• What is the role of the chair
• What qualities and experiences enable the chair to be effective