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Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific You started the Chinese operations and have been working in the country for many years but recently moved up to running all operations in Asia Pacific. Are you still closely involved with what’s happening in China? I started the operations in China almost 16 years ago, and I started them…

Shire Deutschland The acquisition of Jerini has to be one of the biggest milestones for Shire Deutschland in its recent history. How have the synergies developed between the two companies, and how is the integration progressing? To quote Dr Werner Föller, head of Shire Deutschland’s Human Genetic Therapies Business Unit, “The integration…

Grünenthal You arrived at Grünenthal fairly recently, in January of this year. What was it about the company that attracted you to the position? That goes back to 1987, when I made up my mind what my high school major and college degree was going to be. At that time, Germany…

Roche France Roche has a long history in France and currently enjoys a higher position than its worldwide ranking. Can you elaborate on the importance of this market for the group overall? The affiliate in France is one of the largest European affiliate and historically we have held a strong presence through…

Ipsen France As the G5 brings together five very different companies – Ipsen, LFB, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier – could you explain the origin behind the creation and the purpose of the group today? The pharmaceutical industry has been present in France for many years and is one of the country’s traditional…

AstraZeneca France You’ve been at the head of AstraZeneca France for 7 years through during which time there has been a lot of M&A activity in the industry as well as a rising generics market in France and increased regulations for market authorization. How has the business changed for AstraZeneca in this…

Do you feel the industry has changed more over the past ten years than over the entire 40 years before? It’s an optical illusion. People always have had the feelings that things are moving faster while the truth is that they have always been moving at this pace! The only…

Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals are inextricably linked industries which is evident through your board membership that is half comprised of chemical companies developing products for the pharmaceutical sector. To what degree is the French chemical industry dependant on pharmaceuticals? Fine chemicals can be used in electronics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, the latter…

Biogen Idec Germany Having experienced many years at big pharmaceutical companies, you recently moved into the booming biotech sector by joining Biogen Idec in 2007. What made you make such a decision? The growth potential of the biotech industry is incomparable to any other sector in the pharmaceutical industry, and the entire industry…

GSK France France yet today you work for a foreign multinational within France. Can you speak to the differences in culture and what the transition has been like? I have spent half of my career abroad but always having worked for a French pharmaceutical company whether it was Fournier or sanofi-aventis. Of…

After spending 15 years at the CEA (Nuclear Energy Center), you just accepted an offer to become the General Manager of INSERM at the very moment a political reform is reorganizing research in France, creating many tensions. Why did you accept this position given this turbulent situation? The answer to…

The French President declared that he intended to make France the most welcoming and attractive place for the healthcare industry. Do you think this is possible? Can France be the most attractive country in the world? I think the answer is certainly positive, but to say that without any further…