Biography:

Richard Platford is the Global Account Relationship Partner of  IBM Business Consulting Services. He was the founder of Coopers and Lybrand’s (now IBM) Pharmaceutical practice in 1987.  Over the following years his team built the group into the largest global strategy and operations consulting practice in the pharmaceutical sector.  He personally has worked with most of the top twenty pharmaceutical companies, initially in the areas of industrial operations and R&D.  Over the past five years he has focused increasingly on the marketing and distribution functions, covering issues such as sales force performance, client relationship management and distribution strategies.  In particular he has helped a number of key players in the pharmaceutical distribution chain - manufacturers/ wholesalers/ distributors/ pharmacy chains -  to understand the changing shape of the distribution channels, and to develop new channel and distribution partnerships. He has a BA and MA in Mechanical Sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from the London Business School.  Prior to joining Coopers and Lybrand in 1978, He spent ten years in line management in Rolls Royce Aero Engines (UK), Otis Elevator (France and Italy) and Clark Equipment (France).

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