12
Where were you brought up and
educated?
I was born in Wiesbaden and raised in
a small town in Northern Germany. I
studied law at Goettingen University
and as a postgraduate at University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign USA.
How did you become involved in
trade marks?
At my first occupation as an associate
lawyer in a mid-size law firm in
Germany I was in charge of general
commercial law including IP and
particularly trademark affairs. My spirit
was captured.
What would you have done if you
hadn't become involved in
intellectual property?
I sure would be a lawyer anyway,
most probably in the area of
commercial or banking law.
Which three words would you use
to describe yourself?
Reliable, multifunctional, optimistic
Complete the following sentence.
"I wish ...."
. . . that Murphy's law would always
work in my favour.
What was your worst experience in
the world of work?
When promises made to me from one
of my first employers were not kept.
What was your biggest work or
career mistake and what did you
learn from it?
Luckily, I do not perceive to have
suffered from that experience.
Who was your mentor or role
model?
I owe much of what I am today to the
invaluable guidance and teachings of
mentors Ernesto O'Farrell, Ernesto
Aracama Zorraquin and Michael
Cassels, who transmitted to me their
passion for IP and for high quality
work.
What do you do at weekends?
Playing with my kid, exercising magic
tricks, enjoying life.
Complete the sentence: If I have
time to myself ...
...I would share it with the people I
love the most and good friends.
Complete the sentence: I'm no good
at ...
. . . answering questions about what I
am not good at.
What's the best thing about your
job?
To work with the excellent people in
my teams and the variety of challenges
What did you want to be as a child?
A centaur in order to run faster.
What does all your money get
spent on?
If I only had an idea about that
myself.....????
What is your biggest regret?
Not to have spent more time with
some beloved people that now have
passed away.
What is your favourite work of art?
The logo of my Company
What is the soundtrack to your life?
General songs from Tina Turner and
Michael Jackson
What do you dream of?
That I could go back in time to again
enjoy the most wonderful adventures
and experiences of my life.
What is your all-time favourite film?
Billy Wilder: Some like it hot
Which one person would you invite
to dinner?
Harrison Ford
What is your favourite food dish?
New York Strip Steak with pepper
sauce and white wine
What is your favourite item of
clothing?
Fitted Jeans with boots.
© 2013 The Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group
Circulated for information only to PTMG Members. The Group takes no responsibility for the contents
Editor: Vanessa Parker
Tel.: +33 679 316 860 email: vparkercordier@wanadoo.fr
PROFILE: Martin André
Martin is employed at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. He is head of
Trade Marks Department as well as General Counsel for Chemical Performance
Material Division. He is based in Darmstadt with a team of 20 people in Trade
Marks and 15 people in 6 global locations for Chemicals.
Prior to joining Merck KGaA in 2003 and entering into the Pharmaceutical
Industry he was corporate counsel at Schott AG (Carl Zeiss Foundation) and in
private practice in a German law firm. Studied law at Goettingen University in
Germany and at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA; he is admitted to
the Bar in Germany and New York and holds a doctorate degree from Goettingen
University and an MBA from University of Wales in Cardiff, UK. He is a regular
member of INTA and national trademark committees at German Trademark
Association "Markenverband" and Association of Pharmaceutical Companies "VfA"
and has served on the Management Committe of PTMG since 2005.