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

Uh, doesn't Roche own Lab Corp? At least I thought they used to. If so Mickey Mouse should have been able to make that sale.

The Lab Corp business is a great thing for Roche. This win was lead by MN and AT. The issue is that to win this account,which was a long time in the making, took energized, classy people to assemble this complicated deal. The question of the day: In light of this great accomplishment, who would be so ego maniacal and insane to drive AT to pursue greener pastures? Answer: MT

Roche can't be doing to bad. They are replacing all of the Centaurs at Lab Corp with the E170. Installations are taking place now.

Making the decision to do what?

Thankfully you're not making the decision.

Maybe the Novartis deal is true. MT has decided that he would take AT's position (believe me MT is not qualified to shine AT's shoes!). While MT claims he needs 6 months to find a replacement, maybe he is simply waiting for the Novartis deal to come together. Now there are 2 reasons to leave Roche, MT is an idiot, and the company is not in it for the long haul. Get your resume on the street Roche people!

Recent press release on Roche acquisition of Genentech..

RLPC-Jumbo Roche loan for Genentech 'not yet agreed'

01/13/2009 11:53:19
"But the credit crisis has since raised severe doubts about Roche's ability to secure the necessary financing to conclude the deal, and many analysts still expect the Swiss company to have to sweeten its offer."

"Bankers said Roche is now waiting for the right moment to tap the difficult, expensive and illiquid credit markets. Issuance in the corporate bond market has picked up markedly in the new year but is expensive, and the market for jumbo loans remains challenging as cash-strapped banks struggle to shore up their balance sheets."

The Novatis deal would seem to make sense for both companies right now. Novartis already owns a considerable amount of Roche stock anyways and the employees involved would just move down the river a ways to the new headquarters. .

While I don't know who LB is, I agree with the poster that says she is out of his league. The only creature that is suitable for MT is a slimy creature from the pit. There is one thing where MT has achieved a leadership position --for being the biggest sleaze bag in the IVD industry!

As noted earlier, Roche needs the cash from the CD sale because of an increase in their tender offer for Genentech, and there has been a lot of press on their difficulty securing financing for the Genentech acquisition.

Novartis plans to bundle the CD business with their growing Diagnostics business (the old Chiron molecular,now combined with Vaccines).

Some internal memos and work with consultants suggest that operational plans are being looked at in anticipation of merging Roche CD with Novartis.

Has anyone heard about a possible buyout of the central diagnostics by Novartis? I have heard that from a Novartis rep. It appears that they are getting ready for a "fire sale".

Are you talking about LB from LA? If so, I am calling BS. I know her and she is way to smart to get caught up in something like this, in addition to being out of his league.

Being seen with sales rep LB after hours...

What new bone headed move did MT make this week?

AT understood the industry and where it was going (to the end user, the physician) far better than anyone else I've seen.

The former CDx commercial guys and their teams were geniuses--growing above market with that crappy but overpriced portfolio. It was impressive.

-everin -chwann is gone? I don't think so!

Not only did global not deliver the new assays promised, the much anticipated C311, which was supposed to replace the 400 has not been released and when they do release it, it will be a "boat anchor".

They have nothing to compete with the Expand or DXI

The Roche community welcomes MM to the dialogue:

"Are you nuts about AT being CEO? We should scratch the whole lot, get an A-plus recruiter and look for talent that understands the industry. Trying to place people in positions that they are not ready for only sets up failure. Hence, our current position."

Are you nuts about AT being CEO? We should scratch the whole lot, get an A-plus recruiter and look for talent that understands the industry. Trying to place people in positions that they are not ready for only sets up failure. Hence, our current position.

For whoever commented about SS, he is also gone and good ridance.

The most irritating part is, it seems like we were just getting going, placing a lot of instruments, winning big deals, and gaining on the conpetition...then someone (MT) jerked the rug out from under us. Now it feels like we are all just waiting on the other shoe to drop.

It is sad how bad it has become. Anyone else remember just a few years ago Roche was ranked as one of the best places to work. It really does seem MT want to turn Indy into a Canadian style site, simply distribution and local support.

I know someone who used to work in ROD and left--the assay pipeline is a pipe dream. Ask for specific dates and get contractual commitments (credits).

Unfortunately, another warning letter would not be a shock. MT has set up a sales and marketing structure with minimal concern for FDA compliance and GPP. How is this for MT brilliant? The CMO leaves and MT has the PhD and Medical staff report into a marketing head! These PhD and MDs have scientist to scientist discussions about off label use of Roche product-which is ok when there is a distinct fire wall between science and marketing. Having them report in to a marketing head--not exactly a fire wall. Chalk yet another one up to MT's best buddies, ignorance and arrogance.

Anyone else hear another warning letter is in the works?

Check your facts- US outperformed even inflated market growth surpassed only by Beckman. US outgrew all other US players. Tough to hit plan when it's + 2x market growth. How is Germany growth?

you guys sound like you work there. i heard at aacc last year about big test pipeline but haven't seen anything. is it real?

AT didn't deliver? Lets talk about the fact that global does not deliver important assays in a timely manner essentially making Roche systems non-competitive. AT did deliver with one hand tied behind his back. MT deliver more? That is a joke because he is a joke-send him back to the swamp where he climbed out of!

lets face it AT made a lot of mistakes, theoretically he was good but nothing delivered!! Sales not meeting plan, Service still a mess from the Young days, Marketing claiming growth but independants saying loss of market share. How can you be surprised he is removed by MT but also remember he had a golden parachute in place so he is still doing well going to the bank.

Make AT the CEO!

Youre right- Roche would be lucky to get AT back. He would need some help--he completely rebuilt his team with capable folks who helped execute. I understand most are gone. Anyone know where?

Tech service being led by TK

SS has allowed the dysfunction to occur however, he has time to change that legacy by swift and decisive action. Now is his time to stand up and demonstrate true leadership by firing MT, or he can passively stand by and let the death spiral continue. If he can't lead through this type of challenge, he in no way, shape or form can, or should, lead Genetech. Investment community, watch this how how he leads in this circumstance-it will be a huge testament to SS ability. Stand up and be a leader of integrity SS!

Alas! someone finally acknowledges that the source of the dysfunctional organization and bad management decisions is SS!!!!

Funny, whenever I used to drive by Roche Diagnostics on Interstate 69 my radar detector would go off. I likened it the hearing the pulse of the company. These days the radar detector no longer goes off. I guess the pulse is gone. Flatlined I suppose. Here's to all the incredibly talented people who used to work there. Cheers!

Who is the Xerox reject that's leading Technical Service?

SS needs to, in a very public manner, admit that MT and JS were mistakes and swiftly fire both of them. Then work overtime to get AT back in a bigger role. Small price to pay to in order to save the business and enact a turn around within 18-24 months, verses waiting 3-6 months to fire both of them and then enact a turn around that will take 5-7 years. Wake up SS, you can no longer be sleeping at the wheel. You have trouble SS and it is your responsibility to fix it!

Meh, time for whoever is left to start looking for a better company. I wonder if Beckman or Siemens is hiring?

AT is gone? That's just plain nuts! Maybe MT was intimidated by AT's talent, abilities and the fact that people liked working for him.

The performance issues within supply chain under MM have been transparent for 3+ years, her relationship with KK continues to offer shelter. But for how long? At what point doe the Swiss get rid of KK?

It's hard to understand why a company like Roche is so willing to purge all of their talent. You can't replace an AT. Look at the people who were dismissed. Good leaders are gone at every level.

The cobas 8000 is still years away regardless of what anyone says. The supply chain under MM is content to have 15% of their clinical accounts suffer through backorders (on a good month). Their tech service is now run by a Xerox reject with no medical or diagnostic experience. People who should be in place are gone and those that remain are sloppy seconds. There is no logic to this company anymore. It's almost like they want Indy to fail.

It is going to get worse as well. Here is why:

-Roche has always been a big ship with a small rudder, now that AT is gone it is a big ship set adrift in a very stormy sea.
-The software and hardware on the flagship cobas 6000 has a lot of issues and customer satisfaction is not very high. The 2 product managers for the 6000 are gone, one quit and not sure what happened to the other (most of marketing is gone now). Again, big troubled ship with no rudder.
-The Modular series is ancient and with the ongoing delays of the cobas 8000 (if it ever comes to the US), many high volume customers are starting to look elsewhere since the 6000 won't keep up in big labs.
-Don't talk to me about Modular Evo either, what a buggy joke. They took the one product that actually worked well and broke it.
-Still no leadership in sight for customer service and do I even have to mention the BOC...
-As mentioned ealier the quotas on the field will be so high that very few people will make any money this year, killing morale even further.

So there we have it, a big rudderless ship adrift in enemy territory during a Cat 5 hurricane with an ignorant Nimrod captain and most of the people who know how to save it already sailing away in the lifeboats. Time to abandon ship...

Losing AT is a disaster for Roche Central Diagnostics. It is a clear signal that very senior management is failing. It is a giant red flag for anyone in the industry who either has or might consider a career with Roche.

I don't think the loyalty is waning, I KNOW it is gone! I think that every single employee, with the exception of those who MT brought in or promoted, can't wait to see him fail. His under handed ways will result in employees working to ensure his failure. MT may win an occasional battle, but the war will end in his utter career destruction. Every unethical, illegal and stupid move (which basically sums up everything that MT does)is being closely monitored,recorded and reported- and in the end, he will hang himself. That day can't come fast enough!

DR was a VP a few years back. With the shrinking of the company a lot of directors and managers have had their titles and compensation reduced. All part of the death spiral

Isn't it funny how for years under TO, you'd rarely see a Roche posting get many responses, but now under MT there are a ton? I think the loyalty is waning.

AT is a good one-I agree. As long as MT is around, more good ones will leave. It is a target rich place for recruiters to seek good people.

The thing that hit me most about AT when he first came over from Germany and took the VP position in CD was that he was sincere. He held a town hall about a month into his new post and he knew the names of people asking questions, no matter how minor they were in the organization.

He also knew the business, far better than anyone in the senior leadership teams at Roche. He was the best and I wish him well! Roche lost a good one.