Friedrich von Heyl, PhD

Head Corporate Affairs Takeda Germany

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

Trusted Communicator and Business Leader with 20+ years in global Pharma and FMCG companies. Strategic advisor to executives and senior management. Respected manager of high-performing teams, purpose driven, grounded in a set of clear values. Hands-on mentality, collaborative team mindset and considered personality, ensuring aligned and consistent approaches at global and local level. Driving impact and results through strategic skills, analytical understanding of future trends, business acumen and competitive mindset. Strong language and writing skills. PhD in Economic History. Graduate of the Columbia Advanced Management Program, Columbia Digital Marketing Strategy program, Danone Henley Leadership program, Novartis Leading Beyond progam.

Experience

  • Head Corporate Affairs Germany at Takeda
    Dec 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

    As Head of Corporate Affairs Takeda Germany I am serving patients and the Takeda organization. Together with my team my ambition is to drive access to life-changing therapies for Better Health and Brighter Future.

  • Novartis (7 yrs 1 mo)
    • Head Communications & Engagement Germany
      Feb 2021 - Nov 2023 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Leading the combined Pharma and Oncology Communications & Engagement team Germany. As member of the German Novartis Leadership Team, advise Senior Executives and Top Management by bringing the external perspective to decision making processes. Together with my team, innovating brand communications in a dynamic landscape encompassing social media, influencers, and traditional scientific media. Strategic corporate and crisis communications resulted in #2 pharma rankings in trust and patient engagement surveys.

    • Head Communications&Advocacy Pharma Germany
      Sep 2019 - Jan 2021 · 1 yr 5 mos

      Reimagining the future of medicine and patient care with responsibility for communications and patient advocacy of the pharmaceutical business, and for corporate communications in Germany. My mission includes strategic business developments and investments, market launches, public debate on innovative gene therapies, issues and internal communications challenges, as well as building my comms&advocacy team and my leadership team.

    • Global Head Communications Immunology, Hepatology&Dermatology
      Jun 2017 - Mar 2020 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Leading integrated communications strategy and execution for one of the most admirable brands in the pharmaceutical industry

  • Danone (4 yrs 9 mos)
    • Director Corporate Affairs DACH
      Nov 2013 - Oct 2016 · 3 yrs

      Responsible for leading communications strategy and stakeholder management in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia (DACH cluster) of the world's largest yoghurt company. Company Spokesman and Head of Crisis Management. Key assignments including DACH integration of communications and crisis management. Re-establish reputation of key brands through innovative relationship strategy with GOV, NGO and critical media; Securing one voice and supporting management to act credible in business critical settings; Integrate communications with Marketing to initiate 360° campaigns, including blogger and celebrities; Foster motivation and engage employees within change processes and reorganisation. Serving in global taskforce to define roll-out of new company strategy. Strong network with industry association and peers.

    • Director Corporate Affairs Germany
      Feb 2012 - Oct 2013 · 1 yr 9 mos

      Responsible for internal and external communications and stakeholder management for one of the leading FMCG companies in Germany, serving as also as Company Spokesman and Crisis Manager. Establishment of new strategic approach to regain corporate and brand credibility amidst critical consumer and NGO landscape. Integration of Internal communications and Brand PR to build a strong Corporate Affairs function.

  • Head of Group Communications at PHOENIX group (Mannheim)
    Feb 2011 - Feb 2012 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Global head of internal and external communications for Europe's leading pharmaceutical wholesaler and one of the largest family owned companies in Germany with a turnover of >20bn EUR. Company Spokesman. Designing new financial communications to fulfill requirements of bond investors and ratings, including publication of first Annual Report and quarterly financial reports. Implementation of Europe communications team and crisis management structure with establishment of new SOP and guidelines. Member of Senior Management Conference.

  • Director PR&Communications Germany at AstraZeneca
    Jul 2005 - Jan 2011 · 5 yrs 7 mos

    Company Spokesman and Head of external and internal communications in Germany for British-Swedish pharmaceutical company. Fields comprising PR, Employee Communications, Scientific and Consumer Stakeholder Management, Patient organizations, Brand PR, CSR and Sustainability. Crisis communications lead. Key successes include PR campaign to defend key brands in public health debates, keeping the products in reimbursement scheme. Member of global Task Force to engineer European PR Effectiveness. Communications lead in change process, including sales force optimization and site closure.