Ranjit Shahani steps down at Novartis after two decades

The face of MNC drug firms in India and champion of IPR protection, he oversaw the Swiss giant's India expansion, its forays into new therapies and setting up of its global service centre in Hyderabad

Ranjit Shahani is stepping down as managing director of Novartis India after 15 years at the helm.

Shahani has been the face of multinational drug companies in India and a champion of causes such as protection of intellectual property rights. He oversaw the Swiss pharmaceutical giant's expansion in India, its forays into new therapies and the setting up of the company's global service centre in Hyderabad.

His career had its share of setbacks and missed opportunities as well. These include the rejection of a patent for Novartis’ cancer drug Gleevec. Also, Novartis has not grown as rapidly as