The Korean subsidiary of Novartis underwent a period of turmoil last year. The company integrated its Pharmaceuticals and Oncology business units in line with the reorganization policy set by its global headquarters.

Before then, the company had been operating 2 separate business units independently under one name. The two units had separate support departments including marketing·sales departments as well as drug pricing·government relations·approval departments. Through the integration process, all of these departments were merged into single departments with one head.

As a result, layoffs were made and the head of the integrated subsidiary was appointed for the first time since the