Patrick Schmidt

Commercial Strategy, Excellence & Launch | Global & Country Go‑to‑Market | Customer Engagement & Analytics | Life Sciences

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

As a transformative leader, I bring teams together around clear problems and the people they impact. By asking “what are we solving, for whom, and how will we know we've succeeded,” I create focus, align priorities, and turn complexity into practical, measurable action. My work sits at the intersection of go‑to‑market strategy, Commercial Excellence, and data/insights—designing global and country GTM, establishing launch‑readiness operating models with markets, and steering performance across functions. My experience spans Global Brand Teams and country‑level leadership in Customer Engagement and analytics, including GTM design for a multibillion‑euro franchise with key markets and customer engagement transformations that improved reach and effectiveness. I focus on clarity, robust measurement, and cross‑functional adoption to turn insights into swift action and durable operating models across Marketing, Medical, and Field in pharma and biotech.

Experience

  • Head of Analytics, Insights & Channel Effectiveness Germany at AstraZeneca
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Partner in brand and portfolio strategy; shape country go‑to‑market, launch readiness, and performance steering. - Lead a 10+ person team across Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Immunology, and Vaccines; drive analytics, reporting, market research and forecasting to enable data‑driven decisions. - Design and implement a new Segmentation & Targeting framework with individualized engagement planning, KPI tracking, and AI‑enabled personalization at scale. - Standardize decision‑making and KPI frameworks, with impact at global level beyond local market; establish automated reporting and dashboards for transparency and efficiency. - Integrate analytics, AI tools, and automation across Sales, Marketing, and Medical—linking engagement inputs to measurable performance. - Field force optimization and incentive design within Customer Engagement/SFE scope.

  • External Advisor at McKinsey & Company
    Dec 2022 - May 2024 · 1 yr 6 mos

    Advised on commercial analytics, customer engagement, digital transformation, and go‑to‑market projects in Life Sciences.

  • Independent Consultant: Transformative Commercial & Customer Strategy at transformative strategy
    Aug 2022 - May 2024 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Developed commercial strategy and customer engagement transformation roadmaps for pharma, biotech and MedTech; operating models, KPIs, and adoption. - External advisor to McKinsey & Company.

  • Bayer Pharmaceuticals (Berlin, Germany)
    • Senior Director, Global Head of Analytics & Innovation Cardiovascular
      Mar 2017 - Jul 2022 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      Global Brand Team (Xarelto): co‑led lifecycle GTM design with key markets for a €5bn+ franchise; partnered on launch readiness and performance steering based on customer interaction and adoption data. - Built and led a team of senior analysts and digital transformation experts; centralized and automated strategic & tactical reporting and BI infrastructure, KPIs, and governance. - Optimized segmentation, targeting, and field force deployment in priority markets. - Developed commercial investment cases and growth initiatives alongside strategic and operational forecasting.

    • Customer Powerhouse Program Lead (full time project role)
      Jan 2019 - Jun 2022 · 3 yrs 6 mos

      Achieved 40% more HCP touchpoints with substantial market share impact and higher promotional effectiveness in a mature market; double‑digit higher launch uptake in pilot regions vs. control. - Founded and co-led Bayer Pharma’s flagship global digital transformation initiative redefining customer engagement, analytics, and go‑to‑market across Cardiovascular, Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Women’s Health. - Scaled a 50+ person cross‑functional team (Marketing, Medical, Data Science, Digital); designed and implemented the global roadmap covering precision S&T, individualized engagement, advanced capabilities/technology, and agile operating models. - Steered program success across 10+ major markets; embedded data‑driven decision making and measurable impact management aligned with P&L objectives. - Optimized brand planning and global–local collaboration to increase agility and data‑based adaptability.

    • Strategy Projects & Chief of Staff Global Marketing Thrombosis
      Jan 2015 - Feb 2017 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      - Chief of Staff for the cross-functional Global Therapeutic Area team, defining and implementing department structure, culture, and Global brand governance - Leading cross-functional business development projects such as portfolio strategy and investment evaluations as well as marketing business cases - Coordination of budgeting for a 100+ people team and €100mn+ budget, prioritization of major global commercial and medical investment initiatives according to the brand’s strategic priorities