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EF: Could you elaborate on the role Haleon has come to occupy in the market and its strategic importance?
MS: Our mission is to deliver everyday health globally, including here in Poland. As a leading consumer healthcare company, we boast top-tier brands with a long-standing history. At the same time, our commitment to society extends beyond delivering the highest quality products to promote conscious self-care based on reliable health information.
The current trend of heightened health consciousness, accelerated by the COVID era, has prompted us to focus on driving self-awareness and self-care. Our "Redefining Self-care" report indicates that while 80% of individuals plan to prioritize their health, only 20% feel adequately informed. We aim to bridge this gap by championing health literacy, a holistic, healthy lifestyle, and mental well-being. In line with this, we actively participate in influential events like CEE Impact in Poznan and the CEE Economic Forum in Karpacz, where we discuss and create alliances with medical professionals, pharmacies, nurses, and physiotherapists. These partnerships aim to facilitate the delivery of basic patient needs while saving time and resources in the healthcare system.
Recognizing the potential of pharmacies as the first line of health supervision, we advocate for comprehensive legislation on their role in self-care and prevention and work closely with the pharmacy sector to expedite these changes. As an active member of PASMI, the Polish branch of the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry, we collaborate to drive the self-care agenda.
Our multifaceted approach includes participation in major events, collaboration with partners, improving drug accessibility and understanding, and organizing activities that promote positive health behavior. Initiatives like the Add Healthy Movement campaign educate individuals on the importance of movement in daily life. Furthermore, our impactful actions extend to addressing social issues and are aimed at removing barriers, such as those surrounding denture fixatives. By doing so, we empower individuals to overcome social challenges and reengage in normal social life, something particularly crucial for older individuals. Recently, we kicked off a Theraflu purpose into action campaign, "Mom's time for health," which we created in cooperation with Share the Care foundation to help working mothers rest and recover while they are sick. We are helping to raise awareness and address the barriers working mums experience while working with the wider community to create meaningful change and empower working mothers to take time off when needed.
Beyond delivering top-quality products, we are committed to fostering the well-being of the people in Poland through diverse initiatives and partnerships.
EF: What is Haleon's footprint in Poland, and what is driving its growth?
MS: Our well-established, large-scale multinational brands play a pivotal role across various categories, contributing to the diversified growth of our business. We have a strong position in all categories in which we are present in Poland. The expansion is fueled by distinct sources depending on the category. For instance, in the topical painkillers sector, we actively educate pharmacies on the safety and efficacy of using topical gels for pain relief.
Our commitment extends beyond sales. We strive to adopt a holistic approach to health and promote preventive measures. We focus on raising awareness of how our products address common issues, for example, sensitive teeth and bleeding gums. Shockingly, two-thirds of those affected by these problems don't use any solutions, and our educational efforts aim to bridge this gap. We prioritize being a patient-centric company, emphasizing everyday health and an improved quality of life.
While we don't have production facilities in Poland, it is a crucial location for Haleon. Poland is our biggest market in Central-Eastern Europe, home to CEE headquarters and Haleon Hub, which supports Haleon processes globally, including a financial hub supporting a significant part of EMEA, a pharmacovigilance safety European hub in Warsaw, and a procurement and tech hub housing IT, artificial intelligence, and digital commerce teams for EMEA. Despite lacking production operations, Poland is a key location for Haleon due to the size of the market and its location in the center of CEE and strategic hub centers.
EF: Could you elaborate on talent and why Poland is strategic to Haleon?
MS: Two key factors contribute positively to the workforce landscape in Poland. Firstly, the country boasts a dynamic pool of young, well-educated individuals proficient in foreign languages. This stems from historical resilience, fostering a creative problem-solving mindset. Polish employees are widely recognized across countries, bringing international experience and a valuable perspective to their roles.
The availability of top-notch universities and a trend among Polish professionals to pursue studies in Western institutions post-European Union accession further enriches the talent pool. The return of these individuals to Poland enhances the workforce with an international outlook. Additionally, the country's cost of living is reasonable, making it an attractive destination for both local and international talent relocation.
In the IT industry, Poland is emerging as a sought-after hub for talent. The cultural and linguistic similarities with neighboring countries like Belarus and Ukraine make it easier to attract skilled professionals. Alongside this, we see a benefit in the form of lower salaries compared to Western Europe, rendering Poland an attractive option for companies seeking cost-effective talent solutions.
This dynamic has spurred the proliferation of hubs in major cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, and Wroclaw. The growing number of hubs reflects the thriving environment and the continual influx of companies into Poland.
What's more, Poland is the headquarters of our Central-European region, which gives development opportunities to work for CEE countries. People appreciate that they can grow with the company and stay in their home country. There are many examples of talents who flourished in Polish commercial organizations, and now they are leading CEE teams.
EF: What three pillars do you consider to be critical in driving sustainable healthcare in Poland?
MS: In my extensive 30-year tenure at GSK, my focus has been exclusively on consumer healthcare rather than pharmaceuticals. From this perspective, making better everyday health more sustainable is fundamental to our business. We have set commitments to reduce environmental impacts, such as reducing carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy, reducing carbon emission-intensive raw materials or packaging materials, reducing virgin plastic, making all our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030, or optimizing product distribution.
Our sustainable business approach extends to patient-centric practices, emphasizing real needs over artificially driving product demand. We prioritize responsible business by promoting drug access, health literacy, and a culture of self-care and healthy lifestyles. This approach aligns with sustainability goals, preventing overuse and misuse of drugs, which can have adverse environmental and societal effects.
Ensuring the well-being of our employees is integral to our sustainability strategy. Various programs and systems support work-life balance and mental health. Initiatives include online access to coaches, and mental health specialists, no meeting days, short Fridays, and innovative work structures. As a leading company, we offer a hybrid work model, paternity leave, and other benefits that enhance employee satisfaction and attract top talent. Our environmentally conscious office design, accommodating two people per desk, reduces commuting, further contributing to a healthier work-life balance.
These initiatives not only foster a healthy work culture but also serve as industry benchmarks, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and employee well-being.
EF: You've been in Haleon for a year and a half already. When you raise your glass to celebrate two years, what will you celebrate?
MS: Firstly, post-spin-off from GSK, our commitment to employee satisfaction remains strong, as reflected in our positive workplace culture. Employee surveys consistently show great pride in working for Haleon, and our recommendation scores for friends and family as potential colleagues are exceptionally high. Secondly, our business successes are notable, with increased product penetration benefitting more individuals in Poland. This growth showcases the effectiveness of our products and our ability to reach a wider audience. Lastly, since the spin-off, our enhanced visibility in the external landscape is a significant achievement. With our independent agenda, we've made strides in impactful collaborations, especially in healthcare scenes, fostering a stronger presence. This change is pivotal compared to our earlier status within GSK, where our agenda was somewhat overshadowed.
In essence, these three key aspects—employee satisfaction, business success, and external visibility—will be the focal points of my discussion with the team when we celebrate two years of Haleon's commitment to the Polish population, and your question has been instrumental in shaping my message. I appreciate your contribution as we head into the year-end, and I look forward to sharing these positive developments in July.
