Pharmaceutical Track & Trace Solution Provider, advanco, announces appointment of Former Siemens Vice-President and CEO, Dr. Erich Buergel

Advanco, one of the globe’s leading pharmaceutical track and trace solution providers, has announced the appointment of former Siemens Digital Industries Software Vice President and CEO, Dr. Erich Buergel, as a board advisor.

Erich brings more than three decades of experience in the successful implementation of complex software solutions. He also has many years’ experience in business analysis and sales. He will work alongside advanco’s CEO, Alf Goebel, and the wider board, to continue the company’s expansion by focusing on team development, organic growth, and client progression.

Erich will also play a key role in ensuring advanco is positioned to take advantage of the many development opportunities that Industry 4.0. will deliver.

Erich joins advanco from Siemens Digital Industries Software, where he was the Vice President of DACH’s (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) GSCS division, and CEO of Siemens Industry Software GmbH, Germany.

Prior to this, Erich was the Vice President Sales, Global Focus Products Organization, and the General Manager of the Mechanical Analysis Division.

Erich Buergel, Board Advisor at advanco, commented: “Advanco is already recognised as the leading global level 2 to 5 pharmaceutical track and trace solution provider. It has a track record of innovation, which has been especially evident during the Covid pandemic, when it played a key role in ensuring the pharmaceutical supply chain was able to cope with the intense pressures the vaccine roll out demanded.

“As Industry 4.0. continues to evolve, we will see advanco’s innovation skills needed more than ever. The advent of the virus has highlighted the importance for product track and trace to work together, resulting in a supply-chain which will minimize costs for pharmaceutical companies and lead towards a new standard of openness and cooperation in the Industry 4.0. era.”

Erich’s earlier career saw him holding the positions of Vice President of Sales Automotive, EMEA, and Director of Sales Manufacturing, EMEA, at MSC Software; German Systems Integrator and Chief Operations Officer at Steinhilber Schwehrag and was the co-founder and partner of Peoplepower.net.

Erich has an Engineering Degree in Mining and a PhD in Fluid Dynamics from the Technical University of Clausthal in Germany. In addition, he has an Executive BBA from GSBA in Zurich and has successfully completed executive management courses at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Alf Goebel, CEO, advanco, said: “I am delighted to welcome Erich to advanco. He has been a true pioneer in the realm of technology-driven business solutions throughout his career, and I know he will be a valuable addition to our team.

“There are some exciting opportunities in the future as more industries adopt track and trace technology. I look forward to working with Erich as we continue our journey by developing the solutions that will enable the pharmaceutical sector – and potentially many others – to benefit from a watertight track and trace system. This will enable consumers to have complete confidence that the product they expect to receive is the genuine, bone fide product, and not an imitation which could potentially do a great deal of damage.”

Advanco is a portfolio company of Parabellum Investments, which is run by Founder and CEO, Rami Cassis.

Rami Cassis, Founder and CEO of Parabellum Investments, said: “I welcome Erich to advanco and look forward to working with him. Track and trace technology is becoming increasingly important as a weapon against forgers and counterfeiters and is something we expect to see moving into the mainstream sooner rather than later.”

The track and trace of serialized goods, whereby each individual product is given a unique identification code (UID), allows for each UID to be tracked along its respective supply-chain. The ability to track & trace each item, from its manufacturing origin to its destination, gives both economic actors and each consumer the trust and positive assurance of that genuine product’s provenance.

Track and trace is a process that is widely seen as an essential weapon against illicit trade by illegitimate actors who produce potentially harmful products for unsuspecting consumers of medicines, food, etc. It is also an important deterrent against those who make counterfeit products designed to steal from the legitimate market and its consumers.