Robert McGregor

Innovator, intrapreneur and curious mind, radically reimagining pharma development in the age of AI and particularly intent on improving clinical studies

Basel, Basel, Switzerland

About

Robert is a technology and innovation ecosystem gardener, dedicated to defining new methods for developing and deploying novel, value-adding solutions at scale for Novartis. His current mission is imagine, design and deploy an AI-powered decision-support backbone and rebuild our drug development processes around this technology core. Passionate about product-centric innovation and agile methodologies, Robert has led the development and scaling of several large-scale analytics and AI platforms across Novartis divisions and managed several technology platforms at scale. He explores data science approaches and partnerships to drive operational efficiency and empower associates with the data and insights they need for daily decision-making. Previously, Robert led strategy projects at BCG and has a background as a researcher in the medical imaging space and as a mechanical engineer specializing in joint biomechanics.

Experience

  • Novartis (10 yrs 11 mos)
    • Executive Director, AI Program Head
      May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

      Leading an innovation team to imagine, design and deploy an AI-powered decision system and new technology environment to radically accelerate and lean our end-to-end development processes.

    • Technology Platform Head, Clinical Operations
      Jan 2023 - Apr 2026 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      Driving technology strategy for all things planning, analytics and innovation for our clinical studies. Leading a team to envision, manage and reinvent our technology system landscape.

    • Business Platform Head, Digital Trial Operations
      Jun 2022 - Dec 2022 · 7 mos

      Embedding new ways of trial execution based on emerging digital capabilities to improve site/patient experience, speed, efficiency and quality of Novartis' clinical studies. Evolving Novartis' decentralized clinical trial capabilities, digital recruitment and looking at automating as much as possible along the chain of clinical data flow.

  • Project Leader at The Boston Consulting Group
    Mar 2011 - Sep 2015 · 4 yrs 7 mos

    Management consulting: supporting global players in strategic decision-making, sales & marketing setup and organizational transformation. Full project ownership, team, process and stakeholder management, building of client relationships and shaping of contents. Core member of BCG's Health Care Practice Area, with main focus on Medical Technologies and extensive experience also in Pharma. Project management for several major organizational transformations.

  • Research assistant at Computer Vision Laboratory, ETH Zurich, CH
    Mar 2006 - Jun 2010 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    Imaging (MRI / CT / ultrasound) and numerical simulation of blood flow. Patented a new technology in flow measurement enhancement. Research articles accepted to 7 international peer-reviewed scientific conferences or journals. Managed a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and spent 2 months in India, leading to 3 common publications. Supervision of students for master, bachelor and semester thesis work. Created and maintained the institute's hardware inventory.

  • Engineer R&D at Zimmer Inc., Winterthur, CH
    Oct 2004 - Apr 2005 · 7 mos

    Research in collaboration with the ETH Zurich. Leader of the MicroMotion project: experimental imaging in orthopaedics. Developed a new implant testing system.

  • Engineering Internship at TFDesign, Stellenbosch, ZA
    Nov 2003 - Apr 2004 · 6 mos

    Design manufacture and testing of products for thermo- and fluid-dynamic applications, e.g.: design and manufacture of a green tea processing line.