Kevin Kolell, Ph.D., Global Head of Technical Sales
SAFC Lives presents personnel profiles where we talk to the people and personalities who make SAFC tick to find out more about their position, what drives them and what they enjoy doing when they’re not playing a critical role in the ongoing growth of SAFC.
In this edition, we talk with Kevin Kolell, Ph.D., Global Head of Technical Sales, based in Lenexa, KS.
SAFC Live: Thank you for joining us, Kevin. Please start us off with a background of your position and an idea of your day-to-day duties.
I am the Global Head of Technical Sales, responsible for growing our strategic and ‘Top 100′ accounts through a differentiated experience with SAFC’s technical management team. My team is composed of three persons located in Europe and four in North America. I report in to Cindy Reiss-Clark, Vice President of SAFC Life Science Product Sales.
SAFC Live: Tell us about your time with SAFC: What brought you here, how long have you been here and how has your role developed?
My career at Sigma-Aldrich began 12 years ago, when I was hired to work in cell sciences and development as a principal scientist. From there, I moved to the field as a Technical Manager covering SAFC Global Strategic Accounts, ‘Top 100’ accounts and the Asia Pacific region. After three years, I changed positions, working as a Strategic Relationship Manager responsible for growing SAFC small-molecule, large-molecule and diagnostic portfolios globally for our key client Johnson & Johnson.
In 2013, I was promoted to my current job as Global Head of Technical Sales.
SAFC Live: What has inspired you during your career with SAFC? What gets you out of bed in the morning?
The industry we work in is very inspiring, from the people and companies that we interface with on a daily basis, to the innovations that are happening in this industry. I enjoy meeting the challenge of creating solutions for our customers, while also bringing financial success to SAFC.
I feel very fortunate to be working in this industry at a time when biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics and technology are merging together to create solutions that will make a healthier world.
SAFC Live: How do you think SAFC solves problems for customers?
SAFC is very focused on solving problems for customers. My team is a field based technical resource that drives complex customer solutions by having intimate knowledge of the customers’ biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. We focus on solutions that:
1. Increase the speed of getting a biopharmaceutical to clinic/market
2. Reduce the total cost of ownership in biopharmaceutical manufacturing
3. Improve the risk profile of critical raw materials used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing
SAFC Live: What do you see in the company’s future?
The future of SAFC is strong and is built on a unique ability to work with and understand what the top pharmaceutical companies need to succeed in a changing market. I believe that our expertise, coupled with a great focus on customer intimacy, will help us continue to grow.
SAFC Live: Outside of work, what are your passions?
Outside of work I spend a lot of time with my wife and 9-year-old son, Nicholas. We enjoy being together, going to basketball, football, baseball, soccer games, cookouts and dinners with family and friends.
I also love golf, and at some point, it would be great to be invited to play on the PGA golf tour. However, since they haven’t called me yet, I guess I will continue my work in the biopharmaceutical industry.
The post SAFC Lives: Kevin Kolell, Ph.D., Global Head of Technical Sales appeared first on SAFC Live – Blog on Biotech, Biopharma and Life Sciences.
