Early Life and Education
Rudolf Maag was born in Liestal, Switzerland, in 1946. After an injury, he changed his career path from a butcher apprenticeship and attended business school in Basel. Maag earned an MBA from INSEAD in 1973.
Rise to Success
Maag began his career at Sandoz AG, gaining experience in pharmaceuticals. He later joined Straumann, a dental company, where he saw an opportunity in the medical device division. In 1990, he acquired the medical device division, forming Stratec Medical. He took the company public in 1996.
Key Business Strategies
Maag's strategy involved identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the medical device industry. He merged Stratec Medical with Synthes in 1999, creating a major player in the field, later acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Maag is known for his focus on innovation and strategic vision.
Philanthropy
Maag is involved in philanthropy, with a notable contribution of €5 million (approximately $5.9 million USD) to INSEAD, supporting the Rudolf and Valeria Maag International Centre for Entrepreneurship.