Carsten Thiel is a successful medical marketing professional within the field of biotech and pharmaceuticals. Spearheading the launches of various successful drugs and treatments, he is responsible for the success of many of today’s top medical innovations.
Background
Born in Berlin, Thiel remained in the then-divided country throughout most of his childhood. The son of two medical doctors, the importance of education was instilled in a young Thiel, and the purposeful impact of medicine witnessed firsthand inspired young Thiel to remain committed to the medical field. Upon his completion of secondary school in Germany, Thiel initially pursued studies in Chemistry in Malbrook. With a desire to experience a traditional Anglo-Saxon education, he relocated to the United Kingdom to study at the University of Bristol. There, he focused his studies on biochemistry, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree. Throughout this time, he specialized in the research related to measuring enzyme behavior within a changing environment.
Education
Thiel focused his efforts on choosing an elite research organization in Germany, where he would pursue his PhD. At the prestigious Max Planck Institute For Biophysical Chemistry, Thiel specialized in molecular biology, focusing his studies on a particular protein involved in the process of turning healthy cells into cancerous cells. Upon garnering his PhD, Thiel found himself at a crossroad that would determine the start of his career. Choosing between continued research in a Post Doctoral position at Harvard University, and entering the workforce for pharmacy innovators Hoffman la-Roche, Thiel chose the latter, embarking on a professional journey.
Career
Joining Hoffman la-Roche immediately post-matriculation as a Product and Communications Manager, Thiel honed his leadership skills, and quickly excelled within this role. After one year, Thiel was promoted, and given the increased responsibility of working with international peers, creating effective medical marketing strategies. In this role, Thiel honed his leadership skills, and successfully launched campaigns, creating highly effective teams in the process.
From there, Thiel became responsible for spearheading the marketing, and bringing to market, a new weight-loss product called Xenical. As a young leader, Thiel’s patient-first approach, and understanding of the need to maintain a brand’s long-term integrity, was parlayed in his decision to market the product to only specific subsections of the population. Following his intuition, business acumen, and strong sense of medical ethics, Thiel’s marketing strategy was highly successful monetarily, but more importantly, allowed the company to retain a positive public image, the result of consumer success and feedback related to the product. To this date, Thiel amassed various experiences within the realm of prescriber marketing, but his first foray into mass market product marketing was proven successful, with Xenical amassing first year sales north of one billion Swiss francs.
With the desire to round out his professional experiences to include all aspects of medical marketing and pharmaceutical practices, Thiel excelled as a pharmaceutical sales representative for over one year. Residing in the UK’s Blackheath community, Thiel garnered prescriber-first interaction experience as a GP sales representative, marketing an innovation in the cardiovascular field. Later, he went on to experience similar interactions within a newly garnered role as the General Manager for Insadong Eastern Europe, becoming the company’s new franchise head.
Carsten was recently announced as the President of Europe for EUSA Pharma. Dr Thiel brings extensive senior level pharmaceutical experience to this new role, and will lead EUSA's growing commercial infrastructure in Europe.
Connections
Thiel spends quality time with his wife, and two teenage children. Living in four countries throughout the childrens’ lives, the family unit remains close, and values education, cultural exploration, and togetherness. Thiel, along with his wife, enjoys researching, and creating, various meals from different cultures. The family partakes in instrumental jam sessions, family breakfasts, various outdoor activities, and other activities that enhance a healthy lifestyle.
In 2010, Thiel successfully embarked on a maiden trek to cross the Alps in Europe. With a few friends and colleagues in tow, the group’s successful trip became an annual tradition. Each year, the group chooses a new hiking path, and climbs over 6,000 feet to a breathtaking peak. Thiel cites this experience as being one of his proudest personal moments, and not only an excellent team bonding experience, but also a personal feat.