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Part 2 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.
In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO that specialized in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive expertise in pharma and cell therapy makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:- Derek’s early challenges and financial hurdles he faced after moving to Europe for his MBA
- His first role in business development
- His managing transition, learning the ropes of leadership, and his joint venture experience in Mexico
- Derek’s intricacies of managing a matrix organization and his experience as a product manager
Please enjoy my conversation with Derek Hennecke.
Find Our Guest, Derek Hennecke, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennecke/https://kincellbio.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.com
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:50 Episode starts, starting with business development with Gist-brocades and then quickly moving to area business development manager03:00 Derek’s definition of business development and tips and tricks06:27 The trials of traveling back and forth to North America and Derek’s first time managing a team11:20 The challenges of moving and running a joint venture in Mexico, the willingness to do new things16:47 The balancing act of leading a 50/50 venture, communication, and building trust24:18 Strategy to expand almost worldwide, buying a penicillin factory in Mexico City26:59 Becoming a product manager and the roles it entailed, defining a matrix organization31:18 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business
and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.
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