Anthropic: LTBT Trust Now Holds Board Majority — Former Novartis CEO Appointed
Why it matters
Anthropic has announced the appointment of Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, to the board of directors through the Long-Term Benefit Trust. LTBT directors now constitute a board majority, strengthening oversight of the company's safety mission.
Anthropic today announced that its Long-Term Benefit Trust (LTBT) has appointed Dr. Vas Narasimhan to the company’s board of directors. This appointment is significant because LTBT directors now constitute a board majority — a crucial step in Anthropic’s unique governance model.
Who Is Vas Narasimhan?
Dr. Narasimhan is a physician and scientist who currently leads Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Over his career, he has overseen the development and approval of more than 35 new drugs, worked on programs for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in India, Africa, and South America, and chaired PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America). He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations.
What Is the LTBT and Why Does It Matter?
The Long-Term Benefit Trust is an independent governance body with a unique role in the corporate world. LTBT members:
- Hold no financial stake in Anthropic
- Elect directors to the board alongside shareholders
- Ensure the company balances financial success with its public benefit mission
Daniela Amodei, co-founder and president, noted: “Vas brings something rare to our board — experience leading drug development in a highly regulated industry,” drawing a parallel with Anthropic’s approach to safe AI development.
Current Board of Directors
The board now comprises: Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, Vas Narasimhan, Yasmin Razavi, Jay Kreps, Reed Hastings, and Chris Liddell. The LTBT majority means the safety mission has formal primacy over purely commercial interests.