Meet the maker: EPM talks to Steven Facer

In our next instalment of ‘Meet the maker’, the new VP of Europe for The ACG Group, Steven Facer, discusses his past, present and visions of what future holds for pharma.

1. Could you briefly describe yourself?

I have more than 25 years of global pharmaceutical and healthcare experience. I previously headed Colorcon as managing director EMEA before being appointed as senior vice president at Capsugel, responsible for the EMEA region. I have also served as vice president at Catalent Pharma.

I am married with two sons, and in my spare time enjoy cycling, skiing and walking our dog.

2. Please describe your average day in five words.

Growth; customer solutions; team facilitation.

3. At what point did you decide to be involved in the pharma market?

I became involved in the pharma market whilst in my second job in 1994, which is when I worked for a company supplying packaging materials to the pharmaceutical industry. It all fell in neatly with what I had studied at university and I found it really interesting.

I enjoy working in the industry where I am helping to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the population at large — it makes the role feel worthwhile.

4. What has been your biggest achievement?

When I led a major outsourcing company, we won supplier of year to GSK for two years consecutively, which is no mean feat and something that I am extremely proud to have achieved.

5. What would you say is your worst trait?

I think ahead to projects and ideas, sometimes faster than I am able to effectively communicate to the team around me. I get carried away with the excitement and potential.

6. What do you love about your job?

In my current role, which is relatively new, I love working with different cultures and meeting with new global customers — working across borders and building new and exciting partnerships

7. If anything, what would you change about your job?

Our head office and many of the senior team are based in India. If I could meet the team on a physical basis more frequently, I would find that extremely useful. But in today's world of around the clock video communications, nothing holds us back.

8. If you weren’t in the pharma industry what job would you like to do?

For a long time, prior to starting work in the sector, I had thought about becoming a teacher.

9. What challenges do you foresee being important over the next 10 years?

One of the main challenges is the continuing pressure on healthcare spending, which — in turn — puts a great deal of pressure on our customers.

The current consolidation happening within industry is also creating a great deal of turbulence.

There are now far less 'blockbuster' drugs coming to market, and this is challenging the status quo in operations and supply chain.

10. In your opinion, what will offer the biggest opportunities in the future?

Where big volumes and economies of scale are being replaced, this is opening up the market and creating opportunities for alternative players.

In the current market, ACG offers real stability when it comes to our pricing policies; creating consistency which means we are seeing a plethora of opportunities.