Severin schwan family

Severin Schwan

Businessman (born 1967)

Severin Anton Schwan (born November 17, 1967) is an Austrian business executive. He is the current chairman of the board and former CEO (2008–2023) of the Roche Group.

Schwan joined the Roche Group in 1993 as a trainee and has stayed with the company ever since.[1][2]

Early life and education

Severin Schwan graduated from the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck and then studied economics at the University of Innsbruck, University of York, and University of Oxford as well as law at the University of Innsbruck.[3] He completed both subjects in 1991 with a master's degree and acquired the title Mag. iur. and Mag. rer. soc. oec. He then obtained his Doctorate in Law in 1993.[4]

Career

Schwan started his career as a trainee at the Roche office in Basel, Switzerland. He has worked in a number of positions across the globe for Roche. He was appointed CEO of the Roche Group at its Annual General Meeting on March 4, 2008, replacing Franz B. Humor.[5] Previously, Schwan was mana

Severin Schwan

Severin Schwan was born on November 17, 1967, in Hall in Tirol. He completed his early education at the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck and went on to pursue studies in economics and law at various renowned universities, including the University of Innsbruck, the University of York, and the University of Oxford. In 1991, he obtained master's degrees in both economics (Mag. rer. soc. oec.) and law (Mag. iur.), and later in 1993, he earned his Doctorate in Law from the University of Innsbruck.

Schwan's journey with the Roche Group began in 1993 when he joined as a trainee in the Basel office. Over the years, he held several key positions within the organization, showcasing his exceptional talent and leadership abilities. Notably, he served as the Managing Director of Roche's Diagnostics Division. In recognition of his contributions and expertise, Schwan was appointed CEO of the Roche Group at the company's Annual General Meeting on March 4, 2008, taking over from Franz B. Humer.

In addition to his role as CEO, Schwan has been a member of the Board of Directors of

Organizing for breakthrough innovation

Roche, the worldwide pharmaceutical and diagnostics group based in Basel, Switzerland, has enjoyed an innovation run that would make most other large companies envious. On the back of an impressive record of scientific discoveries, the company is today the acknowledged leader in the industry’s most profitable category, cancer drugs. Over the past decade, its shares have been among the best performing in the sector. CEO Severin Schwan declares that Roche’s continued success will depend on its ability to replenish its pharma and diagnostics pipeline through further innovation breakthroughs. In this wide-ranging interview, he talks with McKinsey partner Joel Claret about how Roche structures its R&D, why he prizes employees who make tough decisions, and what investors with a long-term mind-set bring to the party.

McKinsey: You’ve often said you think of yourself as Roche’s chief innovation officer as much as its CEO. Why is that?

Severin Schwan: Looking back over the past 100 or more years, all our periods of strongest growth were

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