21 October 2020 - Deborah Wilkes
Bayer Consumer Health’s Heiko Schipper has been elected chair of the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF).
Schipper is a member of Bayer’s Board of Management and president of the German company’s Consumer Health division.
He takes over from Alan Main, who up until recently was executive vice president of Sanofi and head of the French company’s Consumer Healthcare division (click here to read the News story).
During his 18 months as GSCF chair, Main oversaw implementation of a new strategy built on the key strategic pillars of trust, sustainability and health data. In addition, the federation was rebranded from the World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI) to the GSCF.
Translating recognition into policies
Commenting on his role at the GSCF, Schipper said the COVID-19 pandemic had “driven widespread recognition of the unique value of self-care for society”. “We now need to translate this recognition into policies that promote investment, innovation and growth in our industry,” he added.
Judy Stenmark, director general of the GSCF, pointed out the federation had entered its 50th anniversary at a very interesting time. “It is clear self-care has a vital role to play moving forward,” she commented.
Originally from the Netherlands, Schipper took up his current position with Bayer in March 2018. Prior to that, he spent more than two decades at Nestlé, rising to the post of chief executive officer of Nestlé Nutrition (click here to read the News story).