Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is first company to receive number one ranking two years in a row on DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

• - Reflects clear plan to embed diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our business from the company culture to our strategic business focus
• - Honor recognizes the passion and commitment of our associates who make diversity and inclusion an integral part of their daily work

EAST HANOVER, N.J., April 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC) has been named the top company for diversity for the second year in a row on the annual DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity listing. DiversityInc announced the results of its 2015 Top 50 Companies for Diversity on April 23 at an awards ceremony in New York, NY. NPC also ranked second on the DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment list and seventh on the Top 10 Companies for Employee Resource Groups list.

David Epstein, Division Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals stated, "I am very proud of how far our organization has come and how much we are committed to do to build an organization that is highly inclusive and reflects the diversity of the patients we serve."

"We are thrilled to be recognized as the top company by DiversityInc again this year," said Christi Shaw, President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and President, Novartis Corporation. "We believe that diversity and inclusion are directly linked to achieving our goals of creating solutions that help patients manage their diseases and live fuller, healthier lives. Encouraging diversity and inclusion helps us create a culture where people can be authentic and courageous, where collaboration can flourish, and where greater patient and customer understanding can drive future breakthroughs and innovations."

According to DiversityInc, Top 50 companies have significantly more diversity than average American corporations. Compared with EEOC statistics, Top 50 companies have 20% more Blacks, Latinos, and Asians in management, and 13% more women. In the Top 10 the contrast is even sharper, with 41% more Blacks, Latinos, and Asians, and 46% more women than the US corporate average. This year, for the first time, the National Organization on Disability tracker was required for the Top 10 Disabilities list.

Each company's rank is based on objective analysis of 183 separate factors, based on data from a 300-question survey. The four equally weighted areas of measurement include Talent Pipeline, Equitable Talent Development, CEO/Leadership Commitment, and Supplier Diversity. Any company with more than 1,000 US-based employees is eligible to enter, and there is no cost to compete.

"This honor recognizes the passion and commitment of our associates who make diversity and inclusion an integral part of their daily work. Diversity and inclusion is completely aligned with what matters most to us – using sustainable business practices to meet the current and future needs of our customers, and keeping patients at the center of everything we do," said Rhonda Crichlow, Vice President and Head, US Diversity and Inclusion at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

"Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation becomes the first company to ever be No. 1 two years in a row. This is a remarkable achievement," said Luke Visconti, CEO at DiversityInc. "Under the leadership of President Christi Shaw and US D&I Head Rhonda Crichlow, the company has developed a remarkable pipeline for underrepresented groups, especially women, who comprise 60% of Christi's direct reports."

To see the entire list, go to http://www.diversityinc.com/top50

Disclaimer
This press release contains expressed or implied forward-looking statements, including statements that can be identified by terminology such as "commitment," "goals," "future," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Group regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. These expectations could be affected by, among other things, risks and factors referred to in the Risk Factors section of Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update it in the future.

About Novartis
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines aimed at improving patients' lives.  We offer a broad range of medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, neurological disease, organ transplantation, psychiatric disease, respiratory disease and skin conditions.  The company's mission is to improve people's lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.

Located in East Hanover, NJ, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2014, the Group achieved net sales of USD 58.0 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 120,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation