CNBC Changemakers

Reshema Kemps-Polanco

Company: Novartis
Title: Chief Commercial Officer, Novartis US
Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Standout achievement in 2025: Oversaw five major treatment launches and forged new partnerships with the NFL and others to expand equitable access to life-saving health initiatives.

A U.S. Army veteran, Kemps-Polanco leads expansion of medicines across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. Novartis has posted eleven consecutive quarters of growth and net sales growth is up 40% during her time as CCO.

She oversaw five major new treatment launches in 2025.

In 2025, Novartis also became the first pharmaceutical partner of the NFL for a campaign supporting proactive health measures, including "Your Attention, Please," which focuses on advancing early breast-cancer, and a prostate cancer screening campaign prominently featured in a Super Bowl commercial.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.