UPDATE 1-Novartis says U.S. pharma unit head resigns

(Adds Gorsky joining J&J)

ZURICH, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The head of Novartis AG's (NOVN.VX) North American pharmaceuticals unit Alex Gorsky has resigned, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday.

Gorsky will join Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) later this month as group chairman for Ethicon, which produces products for surgical care, J&J spokesman Steve Dnistrian said.

Gorsky worked at J&J before joining Novartis, with his most recent job prior to leaving being group chairman for J&J's pharmaceutical businesses in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Dnistrian said.

Gorsky's successor at Novartis will be announced at a later date, a Novartis spokesman said in a statement. (Reporting by Sam Cage and Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)