Interview with Padraig Somers, General Manager, Helsinn Birex
Mr. Somers, can you please introduce us to the Helsinn Group and its unique in-licensing model? Helsinn is a Swiss-based, private company owned by the Braglia family. The Braglias have…
Address: Guaranteed Irish Ltd., 1 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2,Ireland
Tel: 353 1 6612607
Web: http://www.guaranteedirish.ie/
Irish Companies have developed a reputation for quality. For products that display the Guaranteed Irish logo know that in a increasingly competitive market it can supply a decisive edge. It’s a mark of quality. That makes it a valuable, respected, marketing tool.
The Guaranteed Irish program was established by the Irish Goods Council in 1975. Since then, this symbol has become one of the most recognized brands in the country appearing on everything from popcorn to bags of sugar and even t-shirts!
In 1982 the European Court ruled against the operation of the scheme by a state funded agency. To continue with this valuable service to industry and the community, in 1984 Guaranteed Irish Limited was formed as an independent non-profit company. To this day Guaranteed Irish continues to promote the ethos of the original program.
Mr. Somers, can you please introduce us to the Helsinn Group and its unique in-licensing model? Helsinn is a Swiss-based, private company owned by the Braglia family. The Braglias have…
Ms. Dickens, in our interview with your Sanofi colleague Jan Hendrix in Belgium last month, he commented that it is amazing how diversified this company has become in just the…
Can you give us a sense of the history of this company and its Irish roots? The company started life in the UK and has always been a GI franchise…
Mr. Hanlon, can you please begin by introducing Clonmel Healthcare to our readers? Clonmel Healthcare was founded by an Irish family in the 1970’s. During this time, its primary goal…
Mr. Hynds, you were personally instrumental in leading the establishment of Actavis in Ireland in 2008. You commented at the time, ‘Historically, Actavis grew by acquisition in other markets, but…
Mr. Martin, you were appointed as Genzyme’s GM for UK and Ireland last month after having spent a decade at the organization. Robin Kenselaar, Head of Genzyme EMEA, noted that…
Mr. Looney, what has it been like to run this business for 26 years? Looking back, what can you say that you have built? It has certainly been an exciting…
Dr. Coveney, what motivated you to start this company? I had been working for the multinationals for a number of years—Schering Plough, and a number of other organizations. In 1999,…
In 2008, MSD began building a human vaccine facility in Carlow—a 220MN EUR investment that the company expanded upon last year with an additional 7Mn EUR. What is the importance…
To what extent do you believe Ireland has been successful in building the knowledge economy it set out to create during the 1980’s? I think we have been hugely successful—and…
This interview also features the comments of Geraldine Murphy, Managing Director of Leo Pharma, Ireland. Ms. Murphy, your transition to your current position was precipitated by a major refocusing that…
This interview also features the comments of Brendan Fitzpatrick, Vice President Finished Goods Manufacturing. Ms. Murphy, your transition to your current position was precipitated by a major refocusing that LEO…
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