On Reflection
Our Annual Press Conference, held today, typically looks back at the previous year in numbers, takes stock and assesses what worked well and where we need to improve going forward. It also provides a platform for an update on our vision and future aspirations.
I’d like to reflect on 2017 from a slightly different angle.
We all know the famous assertion that ‘change is the only constant’, attributed to Heraclitus; last year could not be closer to these words, particularly for the Animal Health Business Unit. In 2017, Boehringer Ingelheim combined with Merial and created one strong market player, the second largest animal health organisation in the world.
That on its own naturally presents opportunities as well as challenges. What do I see when I look back and reflect on a successful year?
I see we now employ around 10,000 diverse talented people, some of the best minds in the industry, thanks to whom we have become a global leader. I see passion about our purpose, the business and its future. I also see that our job is not done yet and that although we are on track, the integration process must and will continue this year, ensuring we streamline the way we work and become one united organisation, strongly leveraging skills, knowledge and expertise of our employees.
I see our customers and partners delighted with our current, much broader portfolio of products, services and solutions; this is also due to our relentless efforts around the ‘One Face to the Customer’ approach. This approach aims to ensure we operate as one, present one brand and our common enhanced portfolio across species, and continuously highlight our combined strength in terms of innovation and pipeline, thus creating a seamless customer and partner experience.
All this translates into our organisation being even better able to foster animal wellbeing and make a true difference, which is our overarching ambition.
However, change is now a new reality in every aspect of our professional and private lives, and we need to keep adapting, be agile and responsive. I believe our fundamental principle of prevention over treatment is very powerful and creates a competitive advantage for us in the industry where we operate. I am convinced that a company with such ethos has a great potential - it makes me proud to have the opportunity to lead a fantastic business and teams with a great future where ambition, passion and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.
When reflecting on what we achieved last year, I also see an incredible amount of commitment, loyalty, determination and perseverance which contributed to the success of this company and for which I wish to express my wholehearted ‘thank you’. To all of you: our employees, our customers and our partners.
As one chapter closes, another begins, and so I sincerely look forward to another successful and exciting chapter of our Animal Health Business Unit, and the entire company. A chapter we have written for ourselves, focused on animal wellbeing, preventive care and flawless customer experience, built on passion, innovation and family values.
Joachim Hasenmaier
Head of Animal Health Business Unit
Member of the Boehringer Ingelheim Board of Managing Directors
Meet the blogger:
Dr. Joachim Hasenmaier is Head of the Animal Health Business Unit, and member of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim. In the past Joachim held multiple roles with Hoechst; he later moved to Intervet in Brazil where he was appointed Managing Director. In 2002 he joined Boehringer Ingelheim as Corporate Senior Vice President Animal Health. Later, he progressed to Corporate Senior Vice President Prescription Medicines (UK/Ireland, Nordics, Benelux, Canada, Australia/New Zealand), and in 2012 he became Member of the Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for Animal Health and Consumer Health Care. Joachim assumed the position of Head of Animal Business Unit after Boehringer Ingelheim acquired Merial in 2017. Joachim is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in Chicago.