Bayer HealthCare Realigns Diagnostics Division as Two Separate Units
On June 1, 2004, the diagnostics Division of Bayer HealthCare (BHC) will be divided into two entities - Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics Self-Testing Systems Division (STS) and Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics Professional Testing Systems Division (PTS). Wolfgang Hartwig, Head of the current Diagnostics Division, will take over as Global Head of Pharmaceutical Research and Development in Wuppertal, Germany on the same date. Hartwig will also be Chairman of BHC's Research and Development Committee.
BHC's decision to align Diagnostics into two divisions is designed to accelerate the company's concentration on consumer health, and to afford both units greater operational flexibility in their respective markets. "This change will allow us to better address the very different business conditions that exist in different parts of the diagnostics market," said Rolf Classon, Head of Bayer HealthCare. "Each segment has its own unique characteristics that affect not only customers and distribution channels, but also guide our future investment strategy." The newly created Self-Testing Systems Division markets blood glucose monitoring systems directly to users, and will add an important dimension to BHC's overall portfolio of consumer products portfolio. The Professional Testing Systems Division will be able to concentrate its focus on customers in hospitals, large-scale laboratories and physician?s offices to solidify and increase its market share.
The STS Division will be headed by Joe Martin, Senior Vice President Self Testing Segment and is headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. Mr. Martin joined Bayer in 1992 as Vice President, Marketing, Immunodiagnostics Business Unit. In 1996, he moved to the UK to serve as Business Group Representative for Bayer Diagnostics UK and Ireland. Prior to Bayer, he was with Abbott Diagnostics as a Marketing Manager in Europe, then Group Marketing Manager, IMX Business Unit, and rising to IMX Business Unit Manager. Joe Martin holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Houston.
Hans Hiller, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of the Laboratory Testing Business has been appointed Head of the PTS Division, which has its headquarters in Tarrytown, New York. Dr. Hiller was named Senior Vice President of the Laboratory Testing Business Segment of Bayer HealthCare's Diagnostics Division in June 2000. In his role, he is responsible for the worldwide Laboratory Testing business including Business Development, Strategic Marketing and Product Management, R& D and Manufacturing. He joined the Bayer organization in 1984 and has held a number of senior level positions within Bayer AG, Bayer Yakuhin, Miles, Bayer Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. Hans Hiller holds a degree in chemistry and a doctorate in science from the Karl-Ruprechts-University of Heidelberg/Germany.
By appointing Wolfgang Hartwig Global Head of Research and Development in the Pharmaceuticals Division, Bayer HealthCare further underlines the importance of Pharma and its current R& D pipeline. "To continue to build value in our pharmaceuticals business, our top priority has to be the expansion and continual improvement of our pipeline. It is critical to our future success," said Mr. Classon. Before being appointed Head of the Diagnostics Division, Hartwig served in various positions in pharmaceutical research, both in Germany and abroad, and was Head of Global Pharmaceutical Research from 1996 to 2002. Hartwig, who joined Bayer AG in 1982, studied at the University of Göttingen, obtaining a Ph.D. in organic chemistry.
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