Alumni Highlights
Michael Exton

As Vice President and Head of US and Global Cardiovascular Businesses for Novartis, Dr Michael (Mike) Exton has built the largest cardiovascular business, both in terms of revenue and human resources, in the worldwide pharmaceutical industry – touching the lives of over 1 million patients globally.

Mike has come a long way since graduating from the University in the early ‘90s. After completing his PhD, Mike embarked on an academic career in neuroimmunology as an Alexander von Humboldt Scholar in Germany - one of the most prestigious fellowships worldwide. Intrigued by how innovation could impact the lives of millions, he chose to shift his focus from academic to industry, and to translating science into clinical benefit and population health impact.

Mike has worked for Novartis - one of the top 30 most valuable companies in the world - across multiple roles and locations in Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States. It was Mike’s leadership, demonstrated passion and impact in cardiovascular disease that motivated Novartis' move to ask Mike to lead operations in the US - the largest pharmaceutical market in the world.

Over the last five years, Mike has built Novartis’ US cardiovascular business into a USD4 billion franchise, managing a team of approximately 2000 people.

Working to combat cardiovascular disease, Mike has led his team to bring medical innovations to the world such as sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), the first new heart failure medicine in over 20 years. Under his exceptional leadership, he and his team have worked with the medical community to treat more than one million people with heart failure, attributing 1.5 million additional years of life added across the population in the US.

“My passion is driven by what is a somewhat underappreciated disease…cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer of all diseases… you can have a huge impact but can make a meaningful difference…not only on the individual but to change the trajectory of cardiovascular mortality,” said Mike.

Mike credits his Australian roots for his success.

“My leadership style is very Australian. I’m a boy from Merewether and you take me with all the rough edges… when things are great, they (people) know about it. When things are challenging, they know about it, but you have their back to try and improve things. I think that’s the key to being a successful leader,” said Mike.

Michael Exton
Vice President and Head, US and Global Cardiovascular Businesses, Novartis

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology Science) 1996, Bachelor of Science (Hons) 1993