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EF: What would you like to celebrate as you embark on your new role as Commercial Vice President for NEMEA?
AC: I realize it is a growth process and about becoming humbler. It is all about gratitude—a heartfelt thank you for my invaluable lessons in healthcare, medical devices, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic business. I have had the privilege of making a real impact in a place where legacy is a very important aspect of what we do. It is not just about launching products or achieving metrics but also about continuous investment in innovation. We are striving to help people live longer, healthier lives, so developing critical solutions is crucial. Beyond numbers and results, it is about the people I have had the privilege to work with, both within my teams and among our customers. Learning from professionals and helping them grow has been immensely rewarding. Many of them have gone on to leadership positions, contributing to the betterment of the industry. Looking back at the past three and a half years, I see the transformation. We have become a more united, collaborative team, transcending national and functional boundaries. We have worked together ceremoniously and built solutions together in commercial areas. This change is a significant part of why I am here today.
We have shifted the narrative about Brazil and LATAM to the global headquarters, highlighting our region's exceptional professionals and unique strengths. Our adaptability, creativity, and ability to find innovative solutions set us apart. Flexibility can be hard to find in more developed areas, but we have learned to do more with less, honing our problem-solving skills. I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to work with such remarkable professionals over the years.
I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to embark on a new chapter in a region I am passionate about learning more about. What motivates me are those challenges that broaden my knowledge, fuel my learning, and provide new experiences. I am eager to explore different parts of the world, from highly developed countries in Western Europe to less developed ones in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Each presents a unique scenario. Africa is a continent with diverse business models and not a single entity. I am excited about the journey. I will consider it a great achievement if I can quickly adapt while fostering a strong team spirit, collaborating, and helping everyone give their best.
EF: What are your main priorities in LATAM, and what mission are you setting for Bruno Campello Simões as the new General Manager in Brazil?
AC: Talking about priorities, our mission in Brazil, and the new leadership, it will be critical to maintain alignment with Guerbet's global strategy, with a strong focus on enhancing imaging diagnostic in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), preparing for the evolution of our Contrast Media portfolio and the incorporation of AI and medical software to our solutions.
Guerbet is committed to investing in artificial intelligence solutions and has recently acquired a company with digital solutions and AI integration capabilities. This is a significant step to support healthcare professionals, especially radiologists. For example, in clinical trials, AI algorithms have shown promise in improving early detection of aggressive diseases like pancreatic cancer, which can significantly improve the patient’s prognosis. The use of AI could mean the difference between saving a life or not. This is the kind of impact that motivates me and our teams.
Our mission in Brazil and Latin America is to move away from selling individual products and provide comprehensive solutions. It is about offering a combination of different products and going beyond physical items. We are entering an era where hardware and software, devices and systems, imaging, connectivity, robots, and remote operations are becoming more integrated into solutions. This is a recent development in many industries, and it is becoming increasingly common, making it a necessary shift.
Brazil is pivotal in our strategy as Latin America's most digitally advanced market. It is home to numerous health tech startups and established companies offering solutions for doctors, hospitals, diagnostic centers, and patients. Brazil has seen significant private investment in innovation, making it a leader even compared to some more developed countries. This makes our country an excellent market for piloting and learning more about these solutions.
Therefore, Bruno’s goals are to leverage Brazil's favorable environment and focus solely and entirely on the country's needs. Guerbet is certain to gain from this higher focus. He will be able to prioritize projects, execute them efficiently, and turn our promises into reality as we reach our goals.
EF: How do you approach collaboration and partnerships and work to strengthen Guerbet's position, enhance access, and foster innovation in the region?
AC: Guerbet’s commitment to Brazil is long-term and started with local operations 51 years ago, in 1972. Soon after, in 1982, we opened a local manufacturing plant in Rio de Janeiro that supplies nearly 90% of our products in Brazil and exports a third of the production to other Latin American countries.
Another area of collaboration and investment has been in scientific development, such as clinical studies. We need to intensify our efforts regarding these projects in alignment with the evolution of our MRI contrast media pipeline, fostering the collaboration between the Brazilian and Latin American health radiologists and the international radiology community.
Recently, with the onset of AI solutions, we are expanding into efficiency and connectivity collaborations to enhance the use of contrast media in diagnostic imaging, making it safer and more effective. Some crucial aspects of clinical trials are the volume and diversity of cases. In Brazil, we have them, combined with a scientific community with high expertise, which presents an excellent opportunity for companies seeking development. We aim to partner and support companies regionally and globally through research initiatives in AI and medical software solutions.
EF: What achievements are you most proud of during your time as General Manager of Brazil and VP of LATAM, and what will you celebrate in this new chapter of your career?
AC: Things have been running smoothly despite less intense interactions with the LATAM team in the past months. I am proud of building a strong team spirit and developing leaders within the company. The team is capable and will continue to execute, evolve our strategy and grow. I trust my team's ability to work together, collaborate, and move forward.
It is a great feeling to see that I could contribute to the sense of unity and clarity about our purpose that will drive sustained growth.
