For Roche, Diabetes Care has become a commodity business. Walk into any CVS or Walgreens and either the store brands take up shelf space or the manufacturers(Bayer, J&J)that continue to adverstise on TV. In my "audits" of retail locations it is clear that the presentation of Roche diabetes care products to the customer is being downplayed (no advertising; minimized store presence.

Adding insult to Injury with the top management in Basel is the utter failure of the insulin pump business (Disetronics)where Roche paid more than $1B, and the failure of the Aviva (US development) platform to return any sizeable portion of the original investment.

Roche's strategy is to not invest in Diabetes care, because it can build it's proprietary positions in several areas of Pharma which have significantly higher returns, and Roche needs cash to leverage the purchase of the Genentech asset.

You will see the Roche Diabetes Care business continuing in decline mode in the US for these reasons. Internationally Roche will continue to be a 2nd tier player in diabetes because of the strength of the Roche brand,and less investment necessary in advertising.

Analyst- Diabetes Care business

What about the Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Care divison? Any comments on the future of this business?

See "Roche Molecular Lay-offs coming" rumor thread in Biofind.

A lot of common threads between sites that point to the overall Roche strategy for US Diagnostic operations.

you're the one drinking the kooloaid if you believe that LG's departure was not tied to MT's behavior...

We all know that RDC is shutting down / moving... nothing new...

We each ahve to decide how long we put up with the cr_p before it's time to move on...

LG's move wasnt because of MT. Other factors at play. Everything is great in Indy. Now drink the Kool Aid. hey back office staff time to sharpen those interviewing skills cuz I overheard the VP in the CB** oops I should stop writing because you're more interested in MT's dating habits and other mindless crap rather than something with legs. Cheers Indy.

The VP of CD that left, LG, is a class act! MT, and his band of new CD clowns, have chased out the majority of the classy leaders in CD. Leadership at its finest!

RDO senior management withstood the warning letter and the last 2 FDA inspections, so I don't think that they would do something to get in trouble with FDA. On the other hand, most of RDC senior management don't have the foggiest clue about FDA. SB, the VP of Quality does not have the respect of MT and the rest of NADEC, so she is essentially powerless.

Any comments about the abrupt departure of the VP of CD sales? She seems like a classy lady and got out. I find it interesting that MT admitted in the town hall that he had offered the job to several people and they turned him down.

The town hall was painful to watch. numbers in the toilet but yet everything is great!

I don't believe many of the top managers know the FDA regulations well enought to knowingly break the rules. The break the rules out of:
* Being driven by hitting the numbers (sales, profits)
* Ignorance of the FDA regulations
* Wishful thinking
* Fear of losing their jobs (Direction comes from Basel, the mother ship)

They won't "do" anything intentional - they are great at covering up, it's all smoke and mirrors. I know what I'm talking about - I work in Compliance, enough said on me. The FDA inspections are a joke, and management really stretches the truth during them. All it takes is the FDA to get off their asses and get out to talk to the people, not just trained and prepped indivuals. Plus Roche corals them in a room and fears letting them get out to really experience and see what Roche is like. If I didn't need a job, I'd blow the whistle on a lot of things. I personally know our Detroit Office and all it would take is a phone call to Sandra.

Do you honestly think they are going to do something knowingly to piss off the FDA? Now after all that was spent since the warning letter? You think they actually want another one?

You are just wishing for their demise but you dont really know what your talking about.

You should not be surprised. we have seen the ingrained management culture at Roche for the last five years. Where revenues and profits "trump" FDA, compliance, quality and people. Good short term strategy some will say, but this will continue to shrink the business medium to long term. Look at what this set of priorities has done to squelch Roche market share in Diabetes, central lab testing and molecular diagnostics.

I just heard that the IT Software Support group in ACC is being cut and people have been given their notices. This is the group that supports the DC Hospital software. I also learned recently that even though the FDA mandates no new product (Nano NC) to be launched in the US that supports maltose chemistry, US Marketing is coming out with a new black Aviva meter this fall. How can Roche continue to not listen to the FDA??? Our Compliance and Quality is going right back to where it was pre-Tecan days. I hope the FDA nails Roche and sets an example. I'm not proud to work here anymore!

Another reorg under the fearless MT? This is his third one in his 1 year shock and awe reign of terror and destruction. I guess this should come as no surprise. When you are a spastic, arrogant, unethical, know it all incompetent, you are not going to make any decisions that will stand the test of time. Congrats MT-you are doing a stellar job of not only continuing, but accelerating the death spiral!!

North America Diagnostics Executive Committee. Senior leaders on the commercial side--RDC--"headed" up by MT himself. Includes VPs of sales, marketing, HR, Communications, Finance (red wine), Legal, Quality.

Can you give me a clue who NADEC is? and his role?

I'll tell you what happened to the ACID test, MT and NADEC are on acid. Some NADEC are on alcohol, which reminds me of a UB40 song: red, red wine ...

I interviewed with them and can say the direct manager was top notch. Then I met the leader of the team I was to work with. Not impressive to say the least. Attention span of about 5 seconds, not well spoken at all (he was customer facing), and needs guidance on how to dress. Perhaps that person had one foot out the door. I can't imagine a person rising to the level of VP disrespects themselves that much. Perhaps run his fluids through one of their analyzers (if it is working) and see what turns up.

posting here is more fun than working... yeah, great town hall. MT is a clown. But it is funny that he is posting here. haha. NADEC: remeber the ACID test? what happened?

Grow up, it is a business. If you dont perform then you should be gone. Thats business.
What makes you think any company owes you something if you arent doing your job? I would say it was a pretty positive townhall for those of us doing our jobs and I would say it put on notice those who are not. Sound like a good idea to me.

Put on your big boy pants now and get to work instead of posting on here huh?

AkA. Sick of all the whining!

Any one watch or attend MT's town hall meeting today?

ANOTHER round of "reorganization"!!!!!!

Wow, I guess the intent is to keep everyone on edge.

At least he was somewhat honest when he said (paraphrased) if you don't like it here, leave....

Oh and the performance police are watching you.... shape up or ship out!

Alles klar, Herr Kommissar!!!

actually,

Alles Käse, Herr Kommissar...

Yeah, I agree... and middle management is FAT is a joke. Too many clueless VPs and NADEC have been willing to make hard decisions and invest in the business ... that's why us middle managers are so BUSY... cleaning up your messes. NADEC needs to get a clue with MT.

MT must have posted the last one: "CEO is not that bad." Are you kidding me? Great way to start the week--with a laugh! What a joke.

the VP's, directors and CEO' are not that bad really, it's all about $$ these days. middle management is FAT, and there is a lot of re-do in many areas. interview the players, find the ones that will produce, and keep the honest ones. The sneaky ones are the trouble. stop hiding your failures and face the music. you spend more time on this site then producing a plan for improvements for Roche. They should not care who it comes from if it's good.

Does anyone know who got the axe today?

manager,
next time you want to complain about reducing your cost and how you have to do it - shut the door. workers do not need to hear management bark about Golden Chair CEO's and how you dislike them.

vent time so hold on:
I have worked for "Roche" long enough to know we do not NEED the managers and superviors that are in most of the departments. What we need is to CUT those lazy @%$# and have the workers report the real RESULTS to a director who will NOT manipulate the reports to the golden chairs. the problem is not the workers, it's the middle men/women who change reports to make their department look good/needed. when in fact it's NOT. can someone please get honest here so we will stay strong and become a world leader again?

Mr MT, KC, and fellow members across the water please listen to the people and not the cheaters who you have in middle management. We know what is wrong and we are damned if we tell the truth!

meet ya at Sully's for a cup of tea!

signed,
Love my job, love my company, commited to achivement!!!

vent time so hold on:
I have worked for "Roche" long enough to know we do not NEED the managers and superviors that are in most of the departments. What we need is to CUT those lazy @%$# and have the workers report the real RESULTS to a director who will NOT manipulate the reports to the golden chairs. the problem is not the workers, it's the middle men/women who change reports to make their department look good/needed. when in fact it's NOT. can someone please get honest here so we will stay strong and become a world leader again?

Mr MT, KC, and fellow members across the water please listen to the people and not the cheaters who you have in middle management. We know what is wrong and we are damned if we tell the truth!

meet ya at Sully's for a cup of tea!

signed,
Love my job, love my company, commited to achivement!!!

he needs to jump ship before we all lose our minds. Everyday it's Who is here who got cut, when is the next wave coming, who in the heck is going to be left to do the job...

Hay Mr FDA, come see us now. We are 100% ready, when you come bring the chains to lock the doors! We will NOT pass!

your kidding me right??? "If you work in Indy, do your job and do it well and everything will be fine. Thats all I can say." where are you hidding? Under MT or KC desk? I'm there and WE do our job's... Can I send you a list of the mgr and supervisors (how did super get into this word)that NEEDS to go? The worker bees can run this company better then any of these so called Golden Chair boys

What Diabetes recall????

I tell you, I feel like I'm only as good as our sales numbers; I don't feel completely safe but I don't feel like I'm going to loose my job tomorrow. I do, however, believe I had better update my resume and keep my eyes open for another position. I don't want to leave but I will not turn down a good opportunity. I miss MM's leadership, I believe TO was a scape goat as well as a place holder and I'm afraid of MT. The recent activities smell fishy (records clean up, the New Jersy announcement, separating RDO and RDC) and I think the diabetes care recall spells doom for Indy.

I would add, what do people, other than MT himself, have to say about him?

Yeah, but what do the women think?

Actually, I disagree. MT is handsome!

What is happening in 454 Life Sci?

Sullivan's is "top notch" only because it's the only place Tillmann can afford on Roche's expense account. I mean, Sullivan's is willing to work with Roche to provide a god meal at a modest fixed price... so Roche can make more money.

Anyone who calls Sullivans "top notch" was likely born in Indiana and never left the city. If you travel and dine in Europe for example you will find Sullivans a poor example for a 5 star restaurant.

How about an affairs with female sales reps. MT is such an unattractive swine that the only way he can get a woman is through his position of authority. He has no redeeming or attractive qualities outside of his impressive title-and he is failing miserably at fulfilling the function of that large title.

I'll add: being such an arrogant and boorish 'arse' that he bans all of RDC from eating at Sullivan's because he had a 'bad dining experience'. Interesting, since this is the second top notch restaurant that he had a 'bad experience'! Do we see a pattern?

I think we should recount MT's accomplishments in his first year on the job:
1. Totally, utterly, destroyed employee morale.
2. A new high water mark for corporate irresponsibility,immorality and lavish greed as a Roche executive.
3. A GRINDING halt to sales growth.
4. A laughing stock reputation among other IVD executive teams in the U.S.

Others. . . lets all join in in elaborating on these, and other achievements from the fearless MT

What's the word on LG? Heard she got a new job recently?

Well I dont know where you all get your information but I do know whats going on and Indy is NOT going anywhere so like I said I dont know where you all get this from.

I guess thats why they call it a rumor mill.

If you work in Indy, do your job and do it well and everything will be fine. Thats all I can say.

Regards

Do these comment make you have hurt feeling Mikey
T? Is that why you write this: "Enough complaining about MT, what are you doing to change things, or to find a life and career elsewhere?" You poor baby Mikey T!

Looked pretty good to me actually all things considered but from his comments as always it seems they just arent quite good enough.
Isnt that always the story? No matter how we do its very good enough.

Great moral booster!

anybody want to to comment on the 1st quarter numbers listed in MT's email?

Wow, nice comments throughout this thread. Let me set some records straight, more jobs will be cut by June. I know because I have seen the list. It's a game people, wake up and realize that this is all short term thinking. Blame MT (he's doing exactly what he is asked), blame lack of leadership (no one around this place has integrity), but blame yourself when you are jobless because all of the signs are here. This is corporate thinking at its finest and you don't matter in the big picture. Once you realize this, your life will gain clarity. And don't worry, in six months they'll need to hire some of you back...

What kind of leadership are you expecting from MT?
Maybe you should act like a professional and do your job instead of blaming everything on a lack of leadership? Hmmmm?

Enough complaining about MT, what are you doing to change things, or to find a life and career elsewhere?

For anyone to imply that MT has a single ounce of leadership skills is totally absurd. There are no comments about his lack of leadership skills because there is not a single sane person who would defend him.

Interesting that there has been no denial about MT's lack of leadership....