Working Life: Carlos Gallardo, general manager, Almirall
pharmafile | February 2, 2012 | Feature | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |Â Â Almirall, Carlos GallardoÂ
Biography
Carlos Gallardo is general manager of the Almirall UK and Ireland affiliate from its creation in 2008. He has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an industrial engineering degree from the Polytechnic University of Catalunya. He was previously director of corporate development, marketed products and mergers and acquisitions at Almirall.
He has also held senior positions in licensing and corporate strategic planning.
Before joining Almirall in September 2004, Carlos worked as an analyst for Pfizer in New York.
How did you find your way into your current role?
I decided to join the pharmaceutical industry while completing my MBA degree at Stanford University in California.
I was inspired by the impact that the industry has on people’s lives and at the same time attracted by the many challenges that the industry was (and still is) facing at that time.
One of my first roles was at Pfizer, where I worked as an analyst in their New York head office. I then left to join Almirall in 2004 where I was fortunate to have worked in a variety of different roles from sales to business development to my current position as general manager for the UK and Ireland.
How is your field changing?
The ageing population together with better provision of medical care and access to improved technologies is putting a strain on health systems around the world. This is forcing the entire industry, from providers to suppliers, to rethink their ways of doing things towards being more productive, more innovative and more flexible.
The UK is no exception, the NHS is in the midst of reform, which will create a significant change towards an improved and sustainable system that can cope with existing cost pressures whilst retaining its fundamental goal of delivering healthcare that is free for all.
At Almirall UK we are conscious that we need to adapt to be successful in the ‘new NHS’ world, and all our efforts are geared towards demonstrating the value of our product offering and services to the health system, as well as providing patients with the best treatments possible.
What are the most enjoyable things about your role?
Firstly the diversity of tasks, the pace and the challenges that I face. Each day is different and presents new experiences so I feel I am constantly evolving, that’s what makes the role very enjoyable.
I enjoy working with my current team, they are a group of very talented people, hugely focused and motivated in achieving their objectives, which makes my life very easy!
And the least enjoyable?
The increasing number of regulatory and market access barriers to develop and commercialise innovative medicines.
These barriers place an unfair burden on the industry and particularly on medium-sized R&D based companies such as Almirall. According to Tufts University, the current cost of developing a successful new medicine is now estimated to be at $1.3 billion, more than the total Almirall sales in one year!
This underpins the need to do things differently and to improve our current working practices, something that at Almirall we have managed to achieve in the past few years. Despite our size compared to ‘big pharma’ we now have one of the biggest respiratory pipelines in clinical development in the industry.
What are the most common misconceptions about your field and the people in it?
The notion that we favour profit at all costs with little thought for the advancement of medicine and patient wellbeing, is sadly a common misconception of people in the industry.
At Almirall we reinvest a significant amount of our earnings back into R&D and commit a large percentage of our workforce to it.
Some of these investments may not see any return, but this is the nature of innovation, and the high attrition rates common across the industry, are reflective of the fact that the industry strives to and delivers safe, effective products which makes a difference.
I think you have to be very courageous to remain committed to R&D and to patient wellbeing in the current economic and healthcare climate.
Is there someone in your field who has inspired you or from whom you have learnt a lot?
My father Jorge Gallardo, who led Almirall for 15 years through its internationalisation process has been a constant source of learning and inspiration. I am also inspired by my colleagues, by their drive, motivation and genuine aspirations. We are now going through a very exciting growth phase in preparation for the launch of new products in the dermatology, COPD and IBS markets, so I expect to see my ‘reservoir of inspiration’ continue to grow as we recruit more talented people to join the Almirall UK team!
Similarly, is there someone (or something) outside your field who has been a source of inspiration for you?
I have always been inspired by entrepreneurs and adventurers. I recently finished Richard Branson’s autobiography and a book on George Mallory’s Everest expedition.
I find that the combination of clear vision, willingness to take risks, confidence in one’s abilities and resilience are essential and very inspiring leadership qualities.
At Almirall we try to attract people with these qualities and foster an environment where these qualities can be displayed and people can thrive. We now have a very talented team in place that we plan to expand in preparation for the imminent market launches.
What is the secret to a happy working life?
Understanding what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing, and then finding a company that provides the right environment for you to develop and grow during your working life.
I’ve seen people being over analytical about their career moves and paying little attention to what they really want vs. ‘what makes sense’. You can not be happy at work if you’re always out of your comfort zone or doing a role that you don’t enjoy.
This is something I pay particular attention to when interviewing job candidates. We want to welcome people to our organisation that know themselves well, have a clear view on what they want as a next step in their careers, and after having done their research feel that Almirall is the right fit for them.
If you had advice for anyone starting out in your field now, what would it be?
Remain close to the customer. Understanding customer needs and finding a solution that addresses them has to be at the core of any product offering.
Sometimes in this industry we get caught up in internal processes and discussions and rely too much on past experience and historical data to make decisions.
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