Novo Nordisk México Names Patricia Field as Director General

Novo Nordisk México has appointed Patricia Field as its new Director General, placing an executive with regional and global experience in charge of the affiliate as the company seeks to expand access to treatments for chronic diseases and strengthen its innovation strategy in the country.

“Mexico has the talent and the conviction to make a difference in health,” says Field in a statement cited by Corresponsables. She adds that her priority will be to expand access to innovative solutions and work with diverse teams, underscoring a focus on science applied to measurable health outcomes.

Field’s appointment marks a leadership transition at Novo Nordisk México at a time when chronic noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity continue to place pressure on health systems. The company said the new leadership phase will emphasize innovation, equity, and access to therapies, aligning the local operation with both national public health priorities and Novo Nordisk’s global strategy.

An economist with an MBA, Field has over 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. Her career includes senior roles in Ecuador, Brazil, the United States, and Colombia. She led Novo Nordisk Colombia for more than three years, a period characterized by regulatory challenges and structural pressures in the health system. According to the company, her tenure there focused on organizational sustainability and strengthening corporate culture.

Before joining Novo Nordisk, Field served as general manager of Biogen in Colombia and spent a decade at AbbVie as commercial director for Latin America. She also held strategic roles at Mars Inc., experience that contributed to her exposure to different operating models and markets. Novo Nordisk says this background supports her appointment in Mexico, a market it considers strategically relevant for its long-term growth.

Beyond corporate management, Field has participated in industry representation and public policy discussions. As president of the board of AFIDRO, Colombia’s pharmaceutical innovation association, she was involved in initiatives aimed at improving access to treatments. She has also supported programs focused on gender equity and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers among girls and young women. In 2025, Forbes included her in its list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Colombia, citing her role in health and leadership conversations.

Novo Nordisk says that under Field’s leadership, one of the priorities in Mexico will be to reframe the public and clinical conversation around obesity. The company plans to promote recognition of obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease rather than an aesthetic issue, highlighting its links to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, steatohepatitis, and certain cancers. The stated objective is to support an integrated, evidence-based approach coordinated with the broader health system.

Operationally, the company plans to continue investing in clinical research, digital transformation, and the development of specialized talent. Novo Nordisk says these areas are critical to building a more resilient and inclusive health system capable of responding to the growing burden of chronic disease and access challenges. It did not disclose specific investment figures or timelines associated with the strategy.

Novo Nordisk has operated in Mexico for 20 years and has expanded its presence beyond commercial activities. The company has invested in clinical research and developed community-based programs such as Cities Changing Diabetes, which focuses on prevention and awareness. It has also partnered with organizations including UNICEF on initiatives to address childhood obesity. Novo Nordisk has been recognized as a Great Place to Work and for its ethics and inclusion policies, according to the company.

Field’s appointment in Mexico also takes place amid heightened global competition in obesity and cardiometabolic therapies. In late 2025, Novo Nordisk became involved in a legal and regulatory dispute with Pfizer over Metsera, a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Pfizer had agreed to acquire Metsera for about US$4.9 billion, but Metsera’s board later determined that an unsolicited proposal from Novo Nordisk, valued at up to about US$10 billion, constituted a superior offer under the terms of the existing merger agreement.

The dispute led to litigation in the United States, with Pfizer alleging anticompetitive conduct and Novo Nordisk stating that the acquisition would strengthen its pipeline in incretin and non-incretin peptide programs. While the case centers on the US market, it illustrates the strategic importance Novo Nordisk places on obesity and related conditions, priorities that also influence leadership decisions in key markets such as Mexico.

Novo Nordisk says Field’s mandate will be to build on the company’s existing footprint while strengthening coordination with health authorities, providers and communities. The company framed the leadership change as part of a broader effort to translate scientific innovation into access and long-term impact for patients, without detailing changes to its current product portfolio or regulatory strategy in Mexico.

Field says her approach will focus on people and collaboration alongside science. Novo Nordisk says it expects this combination to support its objective of contributing to a more sustainable health system as chronic diseases continue to shape demand for care and innovation.