the lack of commitment was clear when the leapfrog investment was shelved. as a sales guy, we really liked the investment in new tests and our customers did also. but it's all gone. we still need IT too. hopefully dr fh will sell us to a better company willing to invest or accept lower margins to grow the business.

to the basel poster, i appreciate your insights. it confirms what we've been thinking in the US for quite a while.

Makes sense that SS is overpowered by JS. If that is the case-RUN, don't walk, away from Roche Diagnostics.

From Basel, Switzerland

Let me set the record straight. Dr. H did the Genentech deal, SS was a by-stander.

SS is a Roche group CEO in "training". While in training, JS is running Diagnostics literally without SS oversight. Don't expect SS to change anyting. JS overpowers SS when it comes to decisions with Diagnostics.

Diagnostics has lost it's attractiveness to the Roche Group. The opportunities in Molecular and Diabetes Care 5-7 years ago have been lost. Reasons are not important at this juncture, only the reduced commitment by Roche Group to this business.

Indianapolis and the core of the diagnostics business seem to be angst-ridden. How is RMD doing these days?

yeah, now SS will have to pay attention to us. i'd like some of that big retention $$ they're giving to genentech. or i'd like a big $everence to leave... back to my 30 hr work. haha

When faced with impossible numbers and a jerk for a North American CEO and an even bigger jerk for a Global CEO, why would ANYONE work hard?!!!! I hope they continued to be measured by BCAC-business contribution after capital charges. When you utilize NAZI style management, it doesn't sit well with Americans and productivity drops off the cliff. This will hit good ole JS and MT right where it counts! Now that SS has reached an agreement to purchase Genetech, he BETTER turn his attention to the damage that is going on in Diagnostics.

Failure seems pretty likely. But it is kinda funny- this year's meeting was just "whatever wasn't andy or scott." the sales folk just rolled our eyes. 6% is from their work not MT's. Nobody believes him or the numbers. what a joke. can't wait to see js blow up when we keep missing our overinflated numbers. I might stay just to watch the explosions. either way, i'm only working 30 hrs per week. haha

You are right, a 6% increase in this market is remarkable. The real issue is that the fearless "leader" is all about himself. A leader like that first preserves himself by hurting others, and then his incompetence is uncovered and he eventually crashes and burns himself. Unfortunately, his ego-maniacal ways will hurt MANY good people along the way. Get out now not only to preserve your self, but to accelerate his inevitable failure!

Way behind number? We're up +6% over last year, but all MT will say is we're 9% behind plan. Nice plan. No $$$ this year... My resume is on the street!

Pretty quiet lately. Heard that nearly 50% of Roche reps have resume on the street and that MT and his band of "brilliant" leaders are WAY behind on Q1 numbers. Would love to see JS have the brains and guts to hold MT "accountable", but JS and MT are 2 peas in a pod-arrogant,ignorant, dictator Germans!

BEC paid $800mm for Olympus: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINBNG45872320090227?rpc=44

Hard to believe that a Novartis director would share M&A details, especially given that it would move the stock. Makes sense for Roche to sell clinical diagnostics, though. It's a commodity business with far lower margins than molecular, point of care or pharma.

Are you certain that Beckman bought Olympus? I heard from a Novartis Director that Novartis was going to buy the diagnostic division of Roche but not molecular and applied science.

Beckman bought Olympus... Roche have no chance of being #2 in the US market now... as they continue to watch Beckman outmaneuver them...

Roche corporate has it's share of issues right now. Tamiflu has been found to be non-effective against avian flu. The Genentech deal fell through and made Roche look very bad. Roche Stock is down 50% from it's high a couple of years ago. Executives in the US who stuck around for maturing stock options are jumping ship. Health care reform will wreck pricing for the future.

This is a company that finally is getting what it deserves....

I worked there in CD R&D for a few years up to the FDA warning letter. It was a total mess after Sal left. R&D? Roche? What a joke! A total incompetence. Though left there before annoucing CD operation closing down, still felt sad about its failure and demise.

i heard roche was looking for a consultant to run north america! job requirements: don't listen, send endless blackberry messages, drink expensive cocktails and 'pursue' sales reps, especially if it involves a trip to hawaii

Many consulting companies are hiring independent professionals. I know this may sound a litte scary, but I made the transition, make more money that at Roche, and have great flexibility with when I work and for whom I work for.

The market is good right now for consultants. Many companies are not hiring full time folks, and looking for help with special projects. I did find that Roche exposed us to many "best practices". It is surprising in my consulting practice how many top name companies are looking for better ways to do the "basics". This I learned at Roche and it has served me well since leaving there.

I know it is a risk, but it is worth taking, especially in the current economy.

Good Luck

I am the person that initiated this posting and was in the same position you are, 25 years with Bio, Boehringer and Roche. I was replaced by someone that had no idea about the diagnostic customer, nor how to lead/manage people. I saw people that did much less but were left alone because they are good at "political games" - not me. I agree with the posters' comments about Roche on the resume. Roche also treated me well when I left, a year severance, out-placement help (not that good) and insurance for 3 months. The one problem I found was that being with a company for so long usually indicates a salary that is a little high in the market place, so set your expectations a little lower - especially in this economy. Good luck and stay positive - attitude is everything!

The integrity of the last 2 posters speaks to the type of people Roche has a way of chasing out. These are EXACTLY the type of people a company should strive to retain. MT chases out the good ones, and puts in unethical "yes" men.

I was asked to leave Roche more than a couple of years ago. One thing you will find out once you are back in the market is that the Roche Indy is at best a 3rd rate player in the business. Good people, but ignorant and arrogant management.

You have good training, a good "pedigree" on your resume with the Roche name, and you will find work at a better organization. believe in yourself, it is easy to feel "beat up" when you work for a failed organization.

I am sitting here sorting through records as I listen to my co-workers talk of video games. I am losing my job in a little over two months, they still have a year. I am so trying to be grown up but I have been at this company (Roche) for over 25 years and I feel so disappointed. We have some of the best products in Clin Chem and Immunology. We also have some of the worst because no one will let go of outdated microparticles.(Old Roche) I will be joining the ranks of the unemployed after working very hard and wearing a lot of hats for this company through Bio Dynamics and Boehringer Mannheim and finally Roche. I am too young to retire, to old to start over. However, I am not alone. If you want to work here, I would stay away from anything without 'service' in the name. Overall, I have been treated pretty good but I am not looking forward to the ugliness to come. I hope things turn around for all the folks that are left here!!

Sales boys and girls, you don't have to go to a "work slow down" to sink MT. His target numbers are complete fantasy. Have you seen how February numbers look? No way to hit the target. Of course, MT will blame the economy, etc. but the truth is the targets are improper.

So, if you chose to stay, hold on to your seats 'cause the ride is going to get wild. MT will blame the poor results on your performance, he will force out more people, really make a disaster of things and then move to Basel as the new CEO.

The problem is SS and Basel, MT is a swiss "puppet" fulfilling the Swiss commands for the US site and market.

The impact of MT's stupidity is now being felt full force. The loss of AT, JM, SZ and others were a direct result of MT. He will have no one to throw under the bus in 2009 and he will be fully accountable for the dismal performance that he will, without question, deliver. MT, will try to take others out in an attempt to save his hide. It will certainly get worse, much worse, before it catches up to MT,and he and his cronies are fired and the rebuild begins. Either work to get out NOW or begin a "work slowdown" to undermine him!

i'll tell you the other thing that sucks- we used to have confidence in marketing but it's gone- no new products, no help closing deals- just sell the old stuff... jm, the upper-level vp left and it hasn't been the same since

Sales rep poster-you go! Work hard to get out of there-you deserve much better treatment than MT will ever give you. The sales force is the life blood of the group and MT only wants to suck the life out of you! If the entire Roche organization would go into a "work slow down" mode, they will ensure that MT will fail to hit his numbers. Then he will see what power "stupid Americans" truly have.

no-we're not quiet, we're disgusted. i'm one of many sales reps with my resume on the street. mt is a disaster--no chance to hit our numbers or make any $$$. what a joke. headhunters, it's fertile ground.

things are quiet...the sales meeting must have really got the sales people ready to sell...

I think the arrogance is a huge cultural issue at the Roche group! Not only is MT arrogant and ignorant, look at JS and SS. The Genetech deal screams arrogance and ignorance! How can SS announce that Nutley is shutting down and moving to the Bay area well in advance of closing the Genetech deal? SS has alienated every single employee group- Nutley, Genetech and with the appointment of little German dictator JS, all the employees of the Diagnostics group. The family needs to conduct a comprehensive house cleaning of the senior executive teams! What a shame, what a mess!

An earlier thread laid the root cause of Roche Indy's collapse as arrogance, pure and simple. The only problem is, each leader, is far worse than the last. Look what MT's arrogance is doing to what was a great company.

DW accomplished that with the strength of Diabetes Care. He used the term "carry their water" and said Germany had always done that for the US. He was so very complimentary of an actual teamwork approach with Mannheim. Interest rates and exchange rates favored the dollar then. DW even imported Benz's through the grey market. Today is so different because Diabetes Care is now a worldwide afterthought, currencies are now established between yen and euros, and Hitachi analyzers are no longer state of the art.

Eras come and go, I did love working with the folks out of Mannheim. They made it personal. And of course the Greek resteraunt outside of Lortz.

Some of us remember the day that the US organization's sales eclipsed those of Germany. It was back in 1999, and DW was at the helm in Indianapolis as CEO. Up until that year, Germany (with JS at the lead), was the #1 country region for sales in all of Boehringer Manneheim/Roche. This was a "de-throning" of JS that he has never forgotten, and has had a h*ard-*n for the US ever since. This is revenge time.......

Your defense, wait on deck and sink with the ship, or try to bail out to calmer waters.

It would be sad to see yet more layoffs, yet not surprizing. MT is destroying the company by kissing JS's butt and accepting absurd numbers. MT is so selfishly motivated that he will hit the profit line at all cost-even if it requires the blood of employees.

I suspect more layoffs are in store for February

How was the CD sales meeting? Is the sales force pumped up or stunned by MT's "campaigns'?

Sort through this thread. The talented leaders already left. The question is will there be any business left after MT's short stay?

Well, many of them should go. Many of them are in way over their heads and got to their status, not by merit, but by lack of leadership. When Roche goes through a cleansing, starting with the top down to directors (and some managers I would presume); the company, its employees (you know the ones that actually know what they're doing), and customers will be far better off.

I would love to see a customer focused organization (Novartis) buy-out all or parts of Roche Diagnostics (Finance oriented). It will be a culture clash however, and a lot of senior Roche managers will go.

Been pretty quiet. Any good stuff at the sales meeting? Any after hours poor behavior from MT?

Well, when you call up this rumor, a Google ad for Novartis employment is displayed. Coincidence?

so what's about the rumor that Novartis is interested in the Diagnostics division of Roche?

Ah, for the Rehkemper days! When we were really numero einz!

While Roche might be Swiss based, the diagnostic group has a huge contingency of German people. JS and MT are Germans, SS is Austrian. So, get your facts right and heed the bottom line, the German leadership is clueless, arrogant and DESTROYING the U.S. diagnostics division.

Roche is a Swiss company, not German, get your basic facts right and it may lend some credibility to your postings in the future.

So, what is wrong with attitude? " Get over the fact that the germans are not going to manufacture products that are custom made for US customers. It's just not going to happen." Last time I checked Roche U.S. is selling to U.S. customers and it is in business to SERVE the needs of the customer. The old German attitude "you vill take it and you vill love it" is fine, if you want the business to go to the competition.
MT is likely here to stay no matter how unethical, arrogant and clueless he is. This type of attitude seem to prevail from the very top down. The Genetech board rejects a Roche at $89, so a hostile bid is made at $86.50! It is GLARINGLY obvious that SS, JS, and MT are only about the bottom line and financial metrics. They are abject failures at the human leadership component of business, and they are comfortable destroying, even take delight in destroying employee morale. In the end, when you destroy your people, you destroy your financial metrics.

Building V V not W. The warehouse just reacts to the whims of the planners on the receiving side and the sales people on the shipping side.

Okay, so building W, the warehouse, is calling the shots on product offering? I thought building W just received finished goods from either Indy or other Roche manufacturing sites and shipped whatever went through order fulfillment. The problem is nobody wants to buy what we are selling. Historically, that is a major problem, at least according to my Notre Dame MBA that Roche paid for.

You know, maybe having MT take over Indy is a good thing. I mean every body knows that marketing (both CD and MD) is bloated wih people more interested in their career and their next presentation about nothing than developing rock solid strategies to sell the product. There is always so much belly aching from building VV about not having the right products to sell, blah, blah, blah. Get out of the cubicle and figure out how to market what you've got! Get over the fact that the germans are not going to manufacture products that are custom made for US customers. It's just not going to happen!!! MT means business (aka sales). If you don't deliver, you're out!

Replacing the Centaurs with E170s?
That sounds like a nightmare about to happen!
Knowing the E170 it will be a slooow nightmare.

Roche don't own labcorp anymore... been many years. Not sure about Micky Mouse making the sale, but Goofy is running north america.