Blog 5-Entrepreneurship, Leaders, HR

·     

Carla Llaneza

Business 1.0

Professor Lamel

18 April 2013

·       Who have been some influential leaders (Founders, CEOs) in the industry over the past 20 years?

      To be one of the most competitive industries to enter into, the leadership behind success of the pharmaceutical industry's must boil down to those large profile and hard-working CEO's. Company names such as Pfizer, Astrazeneca, and Merck are ones that stand out as companies by which lead the market and couldn't be there without the opportunities granted by the Chief Executive Officers. An example of one of the greatest CEO's of our time would be P. Roy Vagelos of Merck. While he presided at Merck, it was said to be one of the largest pharmaceutical drug companies around (forbes.com). This "giant" as described in an article on Forbes.com, took it upon himself to assist in the creation of cholesterol, high blood pressure pills and even a vaccine for the chicken pox (forbes.com).  Previously CEO before Kenneth Frazier, Vagelos was described by him as "one of the best" (forbes.com). He had recently gone to visit Vagelos at his home even though he had retired in 1994 after being CEO for Merck since 1985. His accomplishments reach way past the good standing in the company. Because of Merck's past leadership, it seems that the new CEO for the company is finding it to himself that he also be able to reign over the company as well as Mr. Vagelos did.

      Another CEO of large importance would be Novartis CEO, Joseph Jimenez. Although his standing as been rather new compared to some of the others, he has driven the company to high standards. His view is to get past what the United States and the European countries have to offer (businessinsider.com). Globalizing is the future of the pharmaceutical industry and he understand the shifts and changes to the company very well. He believes countries such as Russia and Africa are worthy of investment and the future of the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. He also understands that there is a large trend towards technology and being technology based as the future of business seems to be headed in this new direction. "The data revolution" should bring great things to the Novartis company and for future always provide new ways of expanding (businessinsider.com). 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2013/04/17/merck-could-return-to-greatness-if-ceo-can-leave-his-own-past-behind/

http://www.businessinsider.com/novartis-ceo-on-how-pharma-can-survive-2013-4