PROFILE: Wolfgang Feiler During university, I spent a year in Ivory Coast, working in a national park. After finishing university and finalising my thesis, I started working in Regulatory Affairs at Byk Gulden in Konstanz Germany, became Head International Regulatory Affairs and then, after 10 years I took over the Trade Mark Department of Byk Gulden in 1996. After the name change to Altana Pharma, Nycomed took over the company in 2006 and I became Head Trade Marks at Nycomed. In 2012 Nycomed was sold to Takeda, my office was moved from Konstanz to Zurich and my current position is Global Head Trade Marks Takeda. I have been a PTMG Committee member since 2013. Where were you brought up and educated? In Coburg Germany which is in the northern part of Bavaria. How did you become involved in trade marks? By chance. After some time in Regulatory Affairs at Byk Gulden I was asked by the company to take over the Trade Mark Department. from different cultures and working with people from different departments all over the world is interesting, challenging, requires tolerance and keeps you learning. Which sport do you play and/or enjoy? Swimming, snorkelling and sometimes scuba diving. What did you want to be as a child? Biologist in an African National Park or Marine biologist. What is your favourite drink? A good red wine. What is your favourite holiday destination? Thailand, Hawaii, and maybe other places I have not yet seen. What would you have done if you hadn’t become involved in intellectual property? Maybe still Regulatory Affairs, or if I would not have started in the Pharmaceutical Industry, I would be a Biologist at University or Research Institute. What does all your money get spent on? Vacation and travelling with my wife. Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? Retired, hopefully healthy, travelling and spending half of the year (winter) in warm countries. What do you dream of? To go on an around the world trip for 3 – 4 months. Which three words would you use to describe yourself? Open minded, curious, reliable. If you weren’t completing this interview, what would you be doing right now? Preparing the next business trip tomorrow. Which piece of advice would you give a visitor to the area in which you live? Take your time, enjoy the lake and the beautiful landscape, the food and wine. What was (were) your best subject(s) at school? Biology, Chemistry. What is the best age to be? Always the age you are currently in. This is my experience until now. What is your favourite building / piece of architecture and why? The Taj Mahal, because it is unique in its beauty and harmony and has a mystic touch especially if you look at it in the early morning. What do you do at weekends? Spending time with family and good friends, cooking, gardening, fish keeping, excursions in the surrounding area and in summer swimming in the lake. Which music recording would you take with you to a desert island? All from Pink Floyd What’s your favourite mode of transport and why? Flying, because it allows you to see all places in the world you like to see and which otherwise you would never reach in a reasonable time. How do you relax? Spending time with my family, visiting friends, work out, reading, gardening. What’s the best thing about your job? Managing a global team with members © 2015 The Pharmaceutical Trade Marks G ro up C irculated fo r info rmatio n o nly to PTMG Members. The G ro up takes no respo nsibility fo r the co ntents Edito r: Vanessa Parker Tel.: +33 679 316 860 email: vparkerco rdier@w anado o .fr 13