Andrey Stogniy, GlaxoSmithKline Ukraine
Name: Andrey Stogniy
Vocation: Area General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Ukraine, Caucasus, Belarus and Moldova; newly-elected Head of EBA Health Care Committee.
Following the reform of EBA Health Care Committee and the elections of the new Committee Board, we are proud to talk to Andrey Stogniy, newly-elected Head of EBA HCC, Area General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Ukraine, Caucasus, Belarus and Moldova.
First we would like to congratulate you on new appointment as EBA HCC Chairman. Can we start with an introduction of yourself and an overview of your company? How do you position yourselves in the market?
My name is Andrey Stogniy. I’m Area General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Ukraine, Caucasus, Belarus and Moldova. I have a medical degree from Kyiv State Medical University (1992) and МВА Degree of International Management Institute in Kyiv (IMI-Kiev), 2004. My career in pharmaceutical business has started in 1995 as a Medical representative. In January 2003 I have joined GlaxoSmithKline Ukraine as a Business Unit Manager. I think it was a right direction chosen to start from the position of Representative and then to move through different roles in sales and marketing.
We at GlaxoSmithKline have a challenging and inspiring mission - to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. We are one of the few pharmaceutical companies researching both medicines and vaccines for the World Health Organisation’s three priority diseases – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and are very proud to have developed some of the leading global medicines in these fields. We produce medicines that treat major disease areas such as asthma, anti-virals, infections, mental health, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive conditions. In addition, we are among the leaders in the important area of vaccines and new treatments for cancer development.
Do you have any plans for expansion? What are your growth ambitions?
In GSK, Ukraine is a part of Emerging Markets, which have a tremendous growth opportunity. However, the realisation of the potential varies from country to country. Ukraine has a good growth power, but the absence of reimbursement (compensation of medicine for citizens) restricts it.
What key market drivers and main challenges which impacting your business?
As we know, in the majority of cases, Ukrainians pay out for medicine of their pockets. So, the increase in consumers’ income is always a positive signal for market growth. Another key driver is the state regulation. Pharmaceutical market is heavily regulated, so any changes in legislation have a tremendous impact on the market.
Have you launched any new initiatives to combat the current challenges?
EBA HCC activity is built on the basis of a continuous dialogue with the governmental authorities and involves negotiating on all initiatives which can affect pharmaceutical industry in Ukraine. Each Committee member streamlines his efforts to achieve the goals set and to focus on the challenges on the road to our common objectives.
Despite the fact that each Committee member represents the certain segment of the pharmaceutical market and the problematic issues may vary from company to company, we have managed to architect the integrated priority list for our Committee.
On behalf of EBA HCC members I can state that one of the most important milestones for pharmaceutical sector development is the legislative stability and accommodative regulatory framework. EBA HCC is an efficient platform for addressing the concerns to the state authorities and a mechanism to promote the necessary changes.
What has been the most important management lesson you have learned?
I think that one of the most important things is - treat people the way you want to be treated.
Who do you most admire as a business leader and why?
I do not have one single person which I most admire. I always admire people who bring changes into the business.
The EBA focuses its actions on 7 vectors of economic development- Corruption fighting, Court system and Land reform, Currency regulation, VAT refund activation, Customs Procedures simplification and Technical barriers to trade elimination. Which one(s) so you foresee as the most vital and why?
At EBA Health Care Committee we are mainly focusing on the questions related to the pharmaceutical industry, for instance state registration of medicines, quality control, clinical trials, advertisement, reimbursement, customs procedures.
What are your main strategic objectives and vision of EBA Healthcare Committee further development? . What essentials of EBA HCC working agenda and goals do you consider to be the top-priority ones?
In my position in EBA HCC, I’d like to focus on strengthening the dialogue with the authorities; support of the harmonisation with EU legislation in a right way - when we not only adopt European legislation, but implement it properly, without increase in bureaucracy, complexity and cost for business; provide support to all EBA member companies.
