Early Life and Education
Wolfgang Marguerre was born in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1941. He studied Political and Economic Science at Heidelberg University and later earned an MBA from INSEAD in 1972. His education provided a strong foundation for his future entrepreneurial endeavors.
Rise to Success
After his studies, Marguerre held various managerial positions in the pharmaceutical industry, including Pharmaplast and Baxter-Travenol Europe. In 1979, he became Senior Executive Vice-President of the Revlon Healthcare Group. In 1983, he founded Octapharma with Robert Taub. Under his leadership, Octapharma has become one of the largest manufacturers of human protein products globally, specializing in medicines derived from human plasma for various medical fields.
Key Business Strategies
Marguerre's key strategies have focused on innovation and expanding access to life-saving treatments. Octapharma's focus is on developing therapies based on human proteins from human plasma and cell lines. The company has expanded its manufacturing capabilities, including multiple state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and a global presence in 120 countries, treating hundreds of thousands of patients annually.
Philanthropy
Wolfgang Marguerre has a strong commitment to philanthropy. He has donated significantly to the renovation of the Heidelberg Theater, which included naming a performance hall after him, and supported the integration of refugees in Heidelberg. He sponsors children with bleeding disorders through Octapharma's corporate sponsorship of Save One Life. Additionally, he has supported INSEAD, endowing the Octapharma Chair in Decision Neuroscience and establishing the Octapharma Scholarship to attract and support business talent.