Merz Americas’ CEO Bob Rhatigan Discusses Reclaimers, Toxin Commoditization, and Christie Brinkley

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Bob Rhatigan AIP005 Podcast

EPISODE 5

In this Aesthetics Innovators Podcast Episode, Bob Rhatigan, CEO of Merz Americas, talks with co-host Grant Stevens, MD, about the battle building in the toxin market, including Merz’s own Xeomin. Is the risk of commoditization real?

Rhatigan also discusses several of the company’s effective marketing plans to target “Reclaimers” and to tout the effectiveness of skin-tightening tool Ultherapy with a campaign highlighting Christie Brinkley.

Rhatigan will be pulling double duty at the upcoming Aesthetics Innovation Summit, sitting on our panels, “Clash of the Toxin Titans, Part II” and “What Investors Are Looking for in Aesthetics.” In this interview, Rhatigan discusses Merz’s in-house venture program. “We don’t just want to provide seed money,” he says. “We want to provide intellectual value.”

Speaking of the May 15 Aesthetics Innovation Summit, Rhatigan says he’s excited by the potential networking opportunities based on last year’s successful event.

“We’ve got the physician base there. Industry is there. The investment capital folks are there,” he says. “For us in medical aesthetics, innovation really stems from strong collaboration and communication.”

Podcast Guest

Bob Rhatigan

CEO

Merz Americas

Mr. Rhatigan is the President and CEO of Merz North America, leading the company strategy and operations across the United States and Canada. He holds a proven track record of successful business leadership, building strong teams and developing leading brands in the medical aesthetics arena. Prior to joining Merz in 2017, Mr. Rhatigan spent 17 years at Allergan where he completed his tenure as SVP, GM and Chief Executive of SkinMedica®. Prior to this role, Mr. Rhatigan served as SVP of Allergan’s Facial Aesthetic business, where he led the launches and marketplace success of BOTOX® Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM® and LATISSE® in the United States.

In addition to his experience in facial aesthetics, Mr. Rhatigan has extensive leadership and product launch experience across neurosciences, medical dermatology and eye care. Prior to Allergan, Mr. Rhatigan spent nine years at Procter & Gamble in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing. Mr. Rhatigan most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Alphaeon, a medical aesthetics startup company. Mr. Rhatigan was named the “Top Aesthetics CEO” by Aesthetic Everything in 2017. Previous awards include: “Innovator in Dermatology” by the Cosmetic Surgery Forum in 2013, “Top 25 DTC Marketer” from DTC Perspectives in 2008 and “Excellence in Sales Leadership” from PDI in 2004. Mr. Rhatigan is a member of Merz’s Global Management Board, in addition to the boards for the North American business.