Dr George Gunn

Founder & Partner

George retired from Novartis AG in 2015 where he had been a member of the Executive Committee since 2008. He joined Novartis in 2003 as Head of Animal Health, North America and moved on to head Novartis Animal Health from 2004. He went on to be head of the Novartis Consumer Health Division and managed the Corporate Social Responsibility area for the Novartis Corporation.

George is a native of the Shetland Islands (Scotland). A veterinarian by education, he has spent more than 30 years in Healthcare Industry. Prior to joining Novartis, he spent 3 years as President of Pharmacia Animal Health, Pharmacia Corporation’s global animal health business based in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA. George joined Johnson & Johnson in 1986 and worked there until he moved to Pharmacia in 2000. He began his career with Johnson & Johnson as Technical Manager Animal Health in the UK and went on to hold senior commercial positions in UK and Europe for Janssen Animal Health. He moved within Johnson & Johnson to work in senior management roles in Human Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Consumer Nutritionals. Prior to joining the industry, George worked for 3 years as a veterinarian in mixed General Practice (companion animals and farm animals) and for 6 years as a field veterinarian for UK Ministry of Agriculture controlling zoonotic and economic diseases (Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, Swine Vesicular Disease, Sheep Scab, Rabies etc.)

George received the Pharmacia Chairman’s Leadership award in 2002 and the Novartis Chairman’s Excellence award for Talent Development in 2007. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Federation of Animal Health in 2015 and from Animal Pharm in 2017 for his services to the Animal Health Industry. George holds the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and a Post Graduate Diploma in Veterinary State Medicine, both from the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, UK. He is also a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK. In 2008 George received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh. George has held leadership positionsin Industry associations throughout his career including a period of three years as Chairman of IFAH – the International Federation of Animal Health which represents the Animal Health industry globally. He also held the position of Chairman of the Development Board at Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh for a three-year period. In 2012 he was appointed as a Regent of the University of Edinburgh.

George is the Founder and Partner of Stonehaven Consulting AG and holds both Chairmanship at Argenta and ViroVet NV