Executive Spotlight: Kimberly Herman, President, Chronic Care, Coloplast Corp

Coloplast develops products and services that make life easier for people with very personal and private medical conditions. Working closely with the people who use their products, Coloplast creates solutions that are sensitive to their special needs. Kimberly Herman, President of Chronic Care provides and in-depth look inside this remarkable business that includes ostomy care, continence care, and wound and skin care. The following interview offers a glimpse as to what it takes for a healthcare company to operate globally and employ more than 7,000 people. Q: Please describe your education, training, and work experiences that have prepared you for your current position as President of Coloplast’s US Chronic Care sector:
  A: I started my healthcare career as a financial planning analyst with Health Net, one of the largest HMOs in California. This was an excellent way to learn the fundamentals of the US healthcare system, from reimbursement to community-based rating systems to provider services and marketing. From there I joined Apria Healthcare and enjoyed a variety of leadership roles with this national provider of durable medical equipment, respiratory medications, and home infusion services. Later I moved to New York and was Chief Marketing Officer for Gentiva Health Services where I lead the company’s strategic planning, marketing, communications, and emerging businesses. Next I became Chief Operating Officer of Senior Home Care, a private-equity owned home healthcare organization. Just prior to joining Coloplast, I was a change management leader and consultant for a number of private-equity owned portfolio companies in multiple industries. The breadth and depth of these experiences has prepared me to lead the US Chronic Care business for Coloplast.

Q: What should readers know first and foremost about Coloplast?   
  A: Coloplast is one of the most trusted names in intimate healthcare. In addition to wound and skin care, Coloplast is also the global leader in ostomy and continence care as well. Coloplast has a rich history of innovation and uniqueness. For example, Coloplast invented the first ostomy pouch as well as the first intermittent catheter. We pride ourselves on listening and responding to the needs of our customers, whether they are patients and family members, clinicians, or materials management experts. Coloplast is proud to partner with leading clinicians and healthcare organizations around the world. Our skin and wound care products are exceptional in their ability to reduce risk and drive positive clinical outcomes. Since 2006, Coloplast has been offering a simple approach to driving clinical efficacy and cost containment with a 5 SKU formulary approach to preventing and managing skin conditions in the hospital setting. Now almost 6 years later, this program has evolved into a standalone program called Coloplast Links, a Skin Care Partnership Program designed to help prevent skin problems and associated complications while assisting in reducing supply chain costs across the entire healthcare community. Different from other competitive offerings, this model is supported by health economics and places focus on three core program elements that enables Coloplast Partnered Providers to (1) Deliver consistent delivery of care, (2) Reduce supply chain costs and (3) Drive compliance throughout the entire system or community.

 Q: How were you first introduced to the arena of wound care and what are some things you appreciate most about this arena?
  A: I was first introduced to wound care while working on an MBA project in which I studied the science and commercialization of tissue regeneration. I was immediately fascinated and intrigued by opportunities to help patients prevent wounds as well as how to accelerate healing. That interest and passion is shared world wide by the Coloplast team.

Q: Please explain how Coloplast manages to be successful in so many arenas while operating globally, employing more than 7,000 people:
  A: Coloplast has a strong commitment to “One Company,” which means that we work diligently to focus on similar priorities, share information, and utilize similar tools as appropriate around the world. The company regularly brings together the leadership and key function from its subsidiaries around the world to discuss innovation, product launches, skill development, key projects, challenges, and opportunities. There is a solid working relationship between our global headquarters in Denmark and each of the countries so that we can learn from and leverage the success of each other. 

Q: What are some of the company’s biggest accomplishments thus far? Also, what are some of the key products that clearly distinguish your brand?
  A: Coloplast is an innovative leader that constantly looks for improvements. We are spending time with our end users to gain a better understanding of their deeply private and personal conditions. By doing this, we have been able to provide products that make life easier for people with intimate healthcare conditions.

  We want the people who use our ostomy products to be able to feel secure so they can live a normal life. This involves knowing a great deal about our users’ lives and the body’s anatomy. Consequently, when developing our products we listen closely to both end-users and healthcare professionals. As a result, our ostomy products are designed to ensure maximum security, which allows people with stomas to get on with their lives. Our SenSura® family of ostomy products offer double-layer adhesive combined with body fit technology making SenSura one of the most sought after ostomy products in the US.

  Our wound care products help people with difficult-to-heal wounds. Included in our wound care product portfolio are the Biatain® and Biatain® Ag Foam Dressings. These dressings are versatile in controlling wound exudate and minimizing periwound maceration. The new Biatain technology combines the same exudate handling properties with subtle enhancements for improved conformity, sufficient ease of use, and improved healing outcomes.

  Our skin care products simplify patient care and improve clinical outcomes. Since 1995, quality skin care products such as Sween® 24 Cream, Critic-Aid® Clear and Bedside-Care® Foam have been developed with minimal ingredients to drive the most optimal clinical and financial outcomes. Our InterDry® Ag Textile with Silver is completely unique in its ability to control the moisture, friction, and microbial growth that contributes to skin breakdown in “skin to skin” or “skin to device” areas.

Q: Please describe the mission/vision of your wound, skin, ostomy, and continence divisions:
  A: Coloplast’s mission is to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs. Closeness to all customers makes this possible. We listen to better understand each individual’s needs, and respond by finding new ways to do things better together. We lead the way by promptly bringing the best ideas to the market—that is, medical devices and service solutions that make a significant difference among the lives of patients.

Q: How exactly does your personal professional vision fit with the company goals?
  A: Coloplast is among the worlds leading suppliers of intimate healthcare products through a philosophy that has served us well for many decades. We listen carefully to people with conditions of a very private nature. We understand their personal needs and then we create innovative solutions that make a significant difference in their lives. It is our vision to set the global standard for listening and responding. My personal vision aligns perfectly with Coloplast’s corporate goals.

Q: Please explain what must take place on a daily basis at Coloplast in order to accommodate patients, clinicians, and healthcare facilities:
  A: The journey through the US healthcare system is not a linear one, and as such, Coloplast takes great pride in its ability to support Providers, Patients, and Caregivers at any point throughout this journey. Coloplast partners with providers on a daily basis to ensure that the right products are not just available and used in the hospital, but throughout that patients’ journey as they strive to live a more normal way of life. As the patient transitions further away from the hospital, Coloplast Care and our team of Consumer Care Representatives are there to support the patients with products and education materials suited to their specific needs. Orders are handled quickly and seamlessly, leveraging a large and flexible network of suppliers and distributors.

Q: Can you offer any words of wisdom to young people looking to strategically advance in the business world? How do you measure success?
  A: People looking to advance in any business should first take the time to learn the fundamentals of how the business operates. This includes the products that the company offers and how they are positioned in each channel. It includes pricing; it includes how products move through the distribution system and the commercial and clinical interests of each buyer. Learning these fundamentals will provide a foundation for solid advancement and more responsibility.

  I measure success in many ways. From a business perspective, current success is ultimately shown in the financial statements in terms of revenue growth, and profitability. Key indicators of future success include talent retention, product and customer pipelines, and the percentage of existing revenues that comes from new products. On a personal level, I measure success by the level of satisfaction one derives from their career and personal lives.

Q: Looking ahead, what are some incentives or products the company is working on?
  A: Coloplast’s corporate strategy is based on a deep understanding of our markets, customers, and current performance. We will strive to continue to maintain our innovative heritage and place impactful products within the market and grow access within the community. An example of this is our ostomy products as Coloplast is the global market leader within ostomy care. We want to leverage this position to grow even strong within our US market. Our SenSura® product portfolio is “state of the art” in the marketplace and we will secure continued profitable growth through innovation and close collaboration with key stakeholders. Our continued focus on our entire product portfolio along with our passion to make a real difference in peoples’ lives is what drives and unites us as a team. We will continue to welcome the broader responsibility that comes with leadership— a responsibility to the environment, to society, to our shareholders, and to act with integrity in all we do.

  For more information, visit www.us.coloplast.com.