«Ostinelli»

Looking back on your time at J&J – which project or target reached are you most proud of?

I have been working for the last 25 years in the Health Care sector, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals which the last 21 with J&J in Italy, Belgium and for the last 14 years in Switzerland.

When looking back at my accomplishments track record, I can list many business achievements in the benefit of J&J and our patients. When the question is what I am proud of, my mind is going back to our Credo and set of values that are making J&J a unique company. In particular, I am very proud of the social support and funding to help communities and people in need within our company and in the society and of the amazing employees of J&J fully engage in any volunteering opportunity to help others.

With my team we have been able to activate and extend our support with funding, special programs and volunteers to the Swiss Red Cross, Special Olympics, Capacity and many other functions.

To give you a sense of J&J people’s engagement, I like to mention the volunteering support offered in occasion of the Swiss Olympics Summer Swiss games in Sankt Gallen: we offered 30 places that were fully taken after 2 hours with many people in waiting list. At the end we extended the enrollment to 80 people! The best comment I received from the parents of athletes was that J&J people were offering support with their heart.

The health sector is in permanent change and very dynamic. What are going to be the biggest challenges for J&J in the next 10 years?

The health sector is indeed very dynamic. But the fundamental challenges remain the same. Despite the progress in disease areas like cancer, immunology or neurosciences during the last years, there is still a big unmet need for patients. This is the fundament of our mission: to fight diseases with science and improving & accelerating access in Pharm and MedTech. In the future we will continue being challenged by patients to support them in their health at every stage of life and also to make the work of healthcare professionals more efficient. In the next years, the focus will shift even more on measurable health performance per costs, in other words: value based health care. 

On our continued innovation journey, we see also future challenges in the broader framework of the healthcare system: Despite the fact that research-based pharmaceutical companies and MedTech are the driving force behind Switzerland as a location for business and innovation, and despite our important role in the research and production of innovative medicines whose rapid access is vital for patients, the framework conditions are getting under increasing pressure. I therefore consider it as a key challenge to clarify relations with the EU. But there are also hurdles to overcome in the area of digitization of the healthcare system. Only in this way will we be able to maintain Switzerland as a pharmaceutical location at the highest level in the future, both for patients and for the Swiss economy as a whole.

You have been working in Zug for a long period. What are the strengths of the Canton of Zug and where should things change or improve?

Since I came into Switzerland and specifically the Kanton of Zug I was amazed by the interaction with Cantonal Authorities. I have been working in many different countries and I have a pretty large international experience but I can tell you that in no other countries I have found authorities eager and willing to discuss and help their clients. I like to use the word client as it represents well how authorities are treating companies but also private people.

I have a few stories I can tell you in the field of relationships with the tax authorities based on trust, professionalism and simplicity. I believe that this win/win mindset is at the center of Zug success as a business location. Of course, infrastructure, international school, proximity with Zurich airport and the beautiful nature are complementing Zug’s offer.

The price for it, where improvement is needed especially for local people, is cost of living, lack of affordable real estate and better integration opportunities of the local and international communities.

You are retiring. Will you completely refrain from business engagements or what are your plans?

For me it is very important to remain active meeting and connecting with people and continue to have projects for the future. While preparing for my retirement I have been really thinking on what I’d like to do in the future and even more on my purpose in life. I found a strong motivation in giving back to society: Communities and people in need offering my knowledge, skills, network and time being very hands on. Secondly, I like to keep contacts with the global and local business community, hence I am supporting a few starts up and I am advising some Private Equities in the field of Life Science, but this is just a professional hobby!

And of course, the key priority is to enjoy life with my fantastic, lovely wife and family: without their support I could not have done anything!

I do not want to work but use my time with who I like, for an initiative I am strongly interested and if it gives me joy and energy. Key is to be in control of my time after having my agenda dictated by business needs for the last 40 years.

Andrea Ostinelli has been with Johnson&Johnson in Zug since 2009, the last few years as Manager External partnerships and Head of campus Switzerland. The Italian is now retiring.