Top ten innovators in pharma: Rob Müller
Hannah Blake
pharmaphorum
(Continued from "Top ten innovators in pharma: Mikael Lindblad")
We asked you to nominate those who you considered to be a top innovator in pharma. We were delighted with your responses and have whittled it down to the top ten pharma innovators for this series.
This week’s top pharma innovator is Rob Müller from Roche Diagnostics, who was nominated by his peers for being a pioneer in social media.
Name: Rob Müller
Position: Associate Marketing Manager in Global Marketing at Roche Diagnostics
Reasons for nomination as a pharma innovator include:
• Rob is a true trailblazer when it comes to deploying social media in the pharma / med device industry.
• He was one of the first industry-side participants to actively engage with consumers in the social media space on behalf of his company, Roche.
• Pioneer of social media.
"Rob is a true trailblazer when it comes to deploying social media in the pharma / med device industry."
• He has incredible diligence and persistence when it comes to getting things done properly.
• Extremely focused and very creative in all his work.
Rob would also like to thank his team members:
• Gina Mencias, who manages Global Digital Marketing.
• Dave Hilbert who manages the Accu-Chek infrastructure — both Gina and Dave are innovators in their own right.
• Jim Lefevere, Director of Global Digital Marketing who really provides the vision and freedom necessary for true innovation.
Background: Rob has an extensive sales and marketing background, holding positions in several companies, including Textron Corp., Molex and National Medical Resources.
Since 2009, Rob has been working for Roche Diagnostics as Associate Marketing Manager, in Global Marketing. He is also Social Media Chair for the American Diabetes Association.
Interview summary
HB: What do you consider to be your defining character traits?
RM: I would like to think they are kindness and patience, but I believe others would most likely say a sarcastic humour.
HB: How would your colleagues / peers describe you?
RM: Right now the leading adjectives are gregarious, affable and dedicated.
HB: Who or what has inspired you to get to where you are today?
RM: That’s a long list, but I’ll boil it down to my family, particularly my wife and daughter. They are, and are the reason for, everything.
HB: What advice would you give to anyone embarking on a career in pharma at the moment?
RM: It’s an exciting time to be in pharma. Things are changing very quickly, from all angles, and those changes are only going to get more dramatic. That’s why it is very important to stay connected to what your audiences are saying, and what is important to them. Many online patient communities are just beginning to find their voice via social media, etc... Tune into that and stay focused on what is most important to your particular market.
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"…it is very important to stay connected to what your audiences are saying…"
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HB: What do you see to be the biggest challenge posed to pharma at the moment?
RM: Discovering simple and creative solutions to satisfy both customer demand and regulatory requirements, which requires balancing the need to connect while dealing with the necessary regulations that are in place. Your customers want to connect with you – they want to know what you know that can help them.
HB: What key phrase best sums up your approach to work and life?
RM: “Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight—you’ve got to kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight.” Bruce Cockburn (excerpt from the song Lovers in a Dangerous Time).
HB: What keeps you busy outside work?
RM: My family, my music and plenty of good books! You can hear some of the music here.
The next part in this series will be published on 31st July.
About the nominee:
Robert Müller is the Associate Marketing Manager, Global Marketing at Roche Diagnostics.
Rob is responsible for building a global, uniform presence in the social media space for the Roche Accu-Chek line of products and services. Prior to his position at Roche, Rob held sales and marketing positions for several companies, including Textron Corp., Molex and National Medical Resources.
Rob kindled his passion for social media while working in Southern California’s music industry where he helped several artists and labels develop social media efforts as part of their guerrilla-marketing strategies.
He is a voting member of NARAS (Grammys) and publisher of Pale Yellow Music (ASCAP).
Rob lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with wife, Mikala, and daughter, Sydney.
Who do you consider to be a trailblazer in social media?
