Yahya Abdallah appointed to helm Novartis operations in North Africa

Friday 21 March 2025 - 08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Yahya Abdallah appointed to helm Novartis operations in North Africa

Novartis Pharma Maroc has appointed Yahya Abdallah as the country president for its operations in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria (MTA). Based in Casablanca, Abdallah will oversee the company’s strategic initiatives across these three markets as Morocco advances significant healthcare reforms aimed at ensuring universal access to medical services.

Abdallah brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry to his new role, including 14 years at Novartis, where he has held various leadership positions. His most recent position was as Head of Business Excellence and Execution for the Levant region, a role he held from October 2022 until his recent appointment.

Prior to this, Abdallah served as Country Head for Jordan and Palestine and Franchise Head for Immunology & Dermatology in the Levant, along with various other regional management roles at Novartis.

In a press release, Abdallah expressed his enthusiasm for leading a team dedicated to enhancing lives. “Together, we will drive meaningful transformation in the healthcare landscape across the region, always keeping patients at the heart of our mission and introducing innovations that truly make a difference,” he stated.

Abdallah's career in pharmaceuticals commenced at Pfizer in 2003, followed by positions at Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Ferring Pharmaceuticals before joining Novartis in 2011. He holds an executive leadership program certificate from INSEAD and is a graduate of Jami’at Al-Ulum wa Al-Tiknolojia Al-Urdunia.

Novartis, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, ranks among the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with reported revenues of $50.32 billion in 2024. Employing over 75,000 people globally, it maintains its position as Europe's third most valuable pharmaceutical company, following Novo Nordisk and Roche.