JEAN-CLAUDE DUBACHER > Chairman & CEO
B. Braun America Inc.
FROM | Altdorf, Uri.
WORK | Bethlehem, PA (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, B. Braun of America Inc.).
HOBBIES | Hiking, tennis, travel, and sports with our two daughters.
FAVORITE BOOKS OR MOVIES | Factfulness, by Hans Rosling, and James Bond movies.
FAVORITE FOOD FROM SWITZERLAND | Bratwurst and Roesti
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FAVORITE SPOT IN SWITZERLAND | Altdorf, Uri.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOURSELF?
I lived all over the world, am married, and have twin teenage daughters. We have a multicultural family – my wife Lizette is Mexican, and our children were born in Texas. Many of my early life experiences were learned while serving as an officer in the Swiss Army. I have had the opportunity to work in different countries in various consulting and corporate roles, including strategy, commercial, supply chain, and manufacturing. All of these experiences have shaped who I am.
YOU JOINED B. BRAUN OF AMERICA IN 2019. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN B. BRAUN MEDICAL?
I had the opportunity to lead a company in the healthcare industry. I was attracted to B. Braun’s long-time commitment to innovation and patient safety, as well as their strong family culture. It was an opportunity to make a difference as part of a company with a noble purpose and a long successful history.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
For the most part, we are through COVID and the supply chain crisis, but there are still remnants of those events that pose significant challenges: mitigating supply chain risks with dual sources of critical materials, attracting and retaining talent, dealing with rising costs of raw materials and energy, and increasing cost pressures in the healthcare industry, to name several.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN YOUR INDUSTRY WITHIN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
We will see continued movement to data and digitalization, the use of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics, all of which will drive new insights into treatments and ways to improve patient care. I also expect continued consolidation of healthcare providers and the move to outpatient and home-based care.
PLEASE EXPLAIN THE DIRECT IMPACTS THE PAST HEALTH CRISIS HAD ON B. BRAUN OF AMERICA’S PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, SOURCING, MANUFACTURING, AND DISTRIBUTION.
We continued to focus on innovation and product development during the crisis, and in some cases, the pandemic drove the use of new technologies. Most of our manufacturing for US healthcare providers is luckily in the US, which helped us tremendously during the pandemic, as we were close to the customers. However, we needed to work through labor supply shortages to keep those operations running while keeping our employees safe. Sourcing was a long and constant battle that involved daily work with our suppliers to make sure critical materials needed for medical care were prioritized.
CAN YOU NAME A QUALITY OF BEST PRACTICE YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT FROM SWITZERLAND TO THE U.S.?
There are many practices that Switzerland does very well, including the investment in R&D (both publicly and privately funded) and the combination of a strong life sciences industry, IT resources, research, and academic institutions will continue to fuel innovative solutions coming out of Switzerland.
HOW DO WE RESOLVE OUR CURRENT GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD AS OUTLINED AT THE LAST WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM?
Companies must continue focusing on sustainability, innovation and more resilient supply chains, including friend-shoring. It is critical for governments to form a common front to address geopolitical and economic challenges including climate change. We all must continue working to provide greater access to medicines while protecting intellectual property. And we must advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our institutions.
HOW HAS SWISS CULTURE IMPACTED YOUR WORK?
Where should I start? I learned from living in a direct democracy, where compromises mean progress considering diverse opinions and needs. I learned how excellent education at all levels is crucial for the good of the country. And I learned how the Swiss culture focused on innovation is critical for sustained progress. I was shaped by my parents growing up in Uri, and I appreciate to this day all my learnings.
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SWITZERLAND LIVING IN THE U.S.?
I miss the beautiful lakes and wonderful mountains – my parents, family, and friends.
WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?
I’m passionate about my family, lifelong learning, being a responsible leader, and helping to make a difference in the world.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO KEEP A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
It is so important to balance hard work with other priorities in life. I work out five times a week, eat healthy, and dedicate time to the family, including being engaged in all our family activities.
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