Some say this could be to a) improve communications directly globally and/or b) reduce costs as having additional regional structures cuts into profits. Both Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic have been moving significant financial responsibility and regional functions in areas such as supply chain management, human resources and finance from Asia Pacific regional offices back to global headquarters, leaving in-country resources to focus on commercial executions on the ground in places like China, India, South East Asia.
Gregory Lovas, Partner for the Life Sciences Practice Asia Pacific at CTPartners, expects demand for senior executives with Asia Pacific experience at global medical device companies HQs in America and Europe to grow. They will be called upon to help their global colleagues understand emerging markets and bring in direct market expertise.
One example is Jean Luc Batel who has been recruited by Baxter. He moved from Medtronic in Singapore to look after international business at Baxter based in the US starting February 20 2012.
Based in Singapore, Gregory Lovas recruits for global pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare services, and biotech clients at CTPartners. Lovas often hears first hand of industry developments within the Asia Pacific markets, particularly China and India.
