CEO Spotlight: JR Locey of Hollister Incorporated

OWM: Please describe the education, training, and work experiences that prepared you for your current position at Hollister.   I have been in the wound care industry for more than 20 years, holding various roles in sales, sales training, sales operations, sales management, marketing, business development, strategic development, and portfolio development. Currently, I am General Manager for the Wound Care business of Hollister Incorporated. OWM: Why did you choose to lead this particular company?   When I joined the management team at Hollister Incorporated, I was looking for a company and a role that would allow me to apply my previous work experience. The opportunity at Hollister was ideal on many levels. I had known about Hollister for some time, and I always was impressed by the company’s quality products, as well as its focus and professionalism. Hollister is an employee-owned company, and its wound care business was especially appealing because it was relatively new at the time.   To me, it was the best of both worlds. Hollister had the feel and energy of a startup but with the support, infrastructure, and resources of a well-established, reputable company. Once I learned more about Hollister’s unique culture and the company’s commitment to the wound care business, I knew this would be a perfect fit. OWM: What do you like most about working there?   Although I immediately felt Hollister’s culture was special, it took me a while to fully grasp all the aspects of its uniqueness. Throughout the company, there is a high level of personal commitment, and the spirit of collaboration is contagious. Its employees take pride in their ownership of the organization. Our mission is to make life more rewarding and dignified for people who use our products and services. We are not focused on generating profits, but rather on making a positive difference in people’s lives. Moreover, our goal is to remain independent, serve our customers, and leave Hollister a better organization than it was when we joined. This company’s culture fosters a unique, rewarding, and enjoyable work environment. I have been fortunate to work at other great companies, but something very special about Hollister puts it above all others. OWM: What makes you most proud of Hollister and its employees?   I am honored to be part of the Hollister team because every decision the company makes is focused on our customers and the patients we serve. Hollister is committed to always doing the right thing. Our goal is to bring quality and affordable products that have strong clinical and economic value to market. This is a very humble company, and when Hollister negotiates with other organizations or business partners, we look for opportunities that are truly in each party’s best interest. We apply this same style in working with key opinion leaders, advisory boards, associations, and speaker panels. Hollister is focused on creating an environment that allows its employees to become better people. We are encouraged to look at success from a much broader perspective than just sales numbers. Our company exists to help make life more rewarding and dignified for patients; making sales is just one of the many ways we help ensure we are able to do so. In addition, we are encouraged to listen to our customers and embrace how our products are impacting their lives — a rewarding approach to doing business.   A perfect example is the recent launch of Endoform Dermal Template. After obtaining customer input, our target was a collagen dressing in the surgical dressing classification. This process delayed the launch of the brand by nearly 2 years. Although the delay hit us from a revenue standpoint, we all knew it was the best option for our customers and their patients. As a result, we launched the product in February of this year and just received recognition as a Top 10 Innovation in Podiatry by Podiatry Today and a Top Innovation Recognition by OWM. OWM: What are some of the company’s biggest accomplishments thus far?   In my view, it is remarkable that Hollister has remained privately held and internally financed for more than 90 years — quite an accomplishment in the 21st century. From its humble beginnings in Chicago, the company has become a global organization focused on delivering quality products, services, and value to its customers. It is not focused merely on sales or profits. Throughout the company, there is a clear understanding that making profit is not an end, but rather a means to fulfill our mission. There is an understanding that Hollister is unique and the company works diligently to ensure its culture will remain vibrant and healthy in perpetuity. OWM: What differentiates Hollister from its competitors?   Hollister is one of few privately held organizations in the wound care space. This allows us to focus on the long-term needs of patients, clinicians, payers, and other customers. Within wound care, we are extremely proud of our differentiated technologies: Endoform Dermal Template, Hydrofera Blue, and TRIACT. Each of these offers unique clinical and economic value. OWM: What is the biggest challenge you face working in the realm of wound care?   Wound care is complex, and there is no single customer profile. The needs and clinical approaches of healthcare professionals can vary significantly, so our challenge is to understand each customer’s unique perspective and needs. Of course, that is also what makes this field so rewarding. Our interaction with each customer is a learning opportunity. OWM: In what direction would you say the industry is moving?   There is no question that reimbursement pressures globally are driving our entire industry to continue reducing costs while increasing economic and clinical value. In addition, the need for clinically relevant data is creating significant changes in the marketplace. Ultimately, payers may begin introducing additional requirements and justifications for product selection and usage where appropriate. These changes should not be seen as problematic to our industry. At Hollister, we will continue to support our customers as we all navigate these new directions and changes in our industry. OWM: How does Hollister remain competitive in the wound care field?   At Hollister, we have a very robust portfolio pipeline, and we remain focused on developing innovative products and services that provide both clinical and economic value. We collaborate with universities and research organizations to help ensure we are bringing exceptional, efficacious technologies to market, and we work diligently to ensure both superior quality and reasonable pricing. We do not see quality and pricing as being mutually exclusive. We are committed to the training and development of our employees so we can continue to bring value to every customer interaction. Lastly, we are focused on maintaining a strong, employee-owned company with a vibrant culture. We understand our people are our most important resource, and we are focused on attracting and retaining top talent. OWM: What is the company doing to give back as far as corporate social responsibility or sustainability efforts are concerned?   The last sentence in the Hollister Mission Statement exemplifies our company’s commitment, not only to each individual, but also to society at large. It reads, “By living each day by our Mission, we will grow and prosper as a company and in the process, become better human beings.” Hollister gives back in multiple ways around the world: through complimentary educational offerings such as our ConnectEd learning management system for clinicians, through a company-wide recycling program that has been in place long before it was fashionable, through contributions to patient support groups and charities globally, and through supporting the communities around the world in which we do business.