Inventing Tomorrow Today: Flemming Nielsen

“The ultimate test for a leader is not whether he or she makes smart decisions and takes decisive action,

but whether he or she teaches others to make smart decisions and take decisive action.”

— Noel M. Tichy

STRAIGHTFORWARD IS DEFINITELY a word you would use to describe Flemming Nielsen. The Denmark native says he was raised to challenge rules and think outside of the box — Scandinavian traits that have served him well as the president of Octapharma USA, Inc. Under his leadership, the company maintains a highly entrepreneurial spirit, encourages innovation and values people who are willing to execute on ideas, even at the risk of failure.

“We encourage our team members to not only succeed, but to also be willing to accept failure — just don’t fail at the same thing twice!” Nielsen says. “At Octapharma, we try to step outside of the traditional business model. Naturally, we have a plan and strategy in place, but we also understand the need to divert from that plan at times; if the plan is wrong, you have to be prepared to change directions. At the end of the day, success will not be measured solely on your plan, but on your execution.”

A Leader in the Plasma Market

Since its founding in 1983, Octapharma has become one of the key players in the global plasma market for plasma derivatives and is active in more than 70 countries around the world. With more than 3,000 employees, the company is continuously expanding. Nielsen joined Octapharma in 2003 at the company’s headquarters in Switzerland, but soon transferred to the U.S. where he has been instrumental in Octapharma’s successful track record in the U.S. market: In just a little more than four years since the launch of its first product, Octapharma USA, Inc., has captured approximately 10 percent of the marketplace for intravenous immune globulin (IVIG).

“Our biggest accomplishment in the U.S. market is that we have managed to position Octapharma as a reliable and trustworthy business partner that truly walks the talk,” Nielsen says. “The growth of Octapharma USA and the expansion and success of the U.S. commercial operations over such a short time frame is an accomplishment in which we all take great pride.”

Leading by Example

When it comes to leadership style, Nielsen endeavors to lead by example, empowering team members to take ownership of initiatives and ideas, encouraging collaboration and providing team-building activities that remove the restrictions imposed by boardroom dynamics. A recent company outing took the sales team to Denmark and Sweden for a week of outdoor adventure aimed at challenging the body, the mind and the spirit.

“You establish different interactions with one another when you interact as human beings, not just as co-workers,” he explains. “We truly believe that the biggest resource we have here is human capital, and we invest heavily in each individual’s personal and professional growth.”

Making Safety the Priority

Since its inception, Octapharma has placed the highest priority on safety; an often-quoted saying among company executives is: “If it’s safe for patients, it’s safe for the company.” The company mission statement, “For the safe and optimal use of human proteins,” further exemplifies its passion for providing life-saving and life-enhancing therapies for the patients who need them. This mission statement has stood the test of time, driving Octapharma’s activities for more than two decades. In addition to its plasmabased activities, Octapharma has recently dedicated increasing resources to recombinant product research and development based on the use of human cell lines.

“From the early stages of product development and licensure trials, to the commitment for post-marketing research, Octapharma builds trust not only in the developmental stages of its products, but also in their real-world utilization,” explains Nielsen. “This is seen across the world in our efforts and commitment to post-marketing surveillance for products, such as our immune globulins, Octagam 5% and Octagam 10%, as well as for our von Willebrand factor product, Wilate.”

Innovative Entrepreneurs

One of Octapharma’s core values is innovation, and Nielsen notes that there are extensive product development activities underway in each of its three major therapeutic focus areas: immunotherapy, hematology and intensive care/emergency medicine. The company also is proceeding with worldwide efforts to expand its immune globulin portfolio with both enhanced formulations, including subcutaneous therapy and expanded indications.

“Our hematology portfolio is of unique interest, as we have not only recently received both FDA approval and orphan drug exclusivity status for Wilate, but we are now beginning our U.S. clinical development efforts for our human cell line recombinant factorVIII product, which is most exciting,” adds Nielsen.

Many people have a motto or creed that drives their approach to business and life. For Nielsen, leading a company known for trailblazing requires a will›ingness to pull out the proverbial crystal ball. He calls this trait the ability to “invent tomorrow today.”

“A lot of people confuse leadership with management,” Nielsen explains. “Management is controlling, whereas leadership is inspiring. If I’m doing my job the right way,I am constantly looking forward to anticipate what’s ahead. As a company, we are constantly evolving. We’re a different organization than we were in 2004, or 2006, and we will be different a year from now than we are today. Of course, as we branch into new areas, we will always maintain our core values as ‘innovative entrepreneurs.’ It’s what our company was founded on.”