The CEO of Zoetis on How He Prepared for the Top Job

Reprint: R1406A

Alaix began his career in finance and then spent years running businesses within large pharmaceutical companies. He was heading the animal health division at Pfizer when the company decided to spin off the division in an IPO and make him the CEO. Alaix knew that sophisticated external communication skills would be especially important in the months leading up to the IPO: He would be telling the company’s story to analysts and potential investors, and their opinion of its strategy would have a direct impact on the value of the stock offering.

He had about two years in which to pursue an aggressive training program and gain the skills he hadn’t previously developed. Working with the HR department, he defined a development plan and then identified a mentor—the former CEO of a big European company. He used two communications trainers to help him hone his message and sharpen his delivery—and then practiced for interviews and road show pitches over and over again. Finally, he met monthly with Pfizer executives and internal board members to learn the art of dealing with directors.

The article includes a Q&A with Nancy Duarte, a leading presentations expert.