Sigma-Aldrich reorganises into new business units

US-based life science and new technology provider Sigma-Aldrich is to reorganise into four new business units to better serve its customers.

After a six month study which included interviews with some 650 customers around the globe, the company has decided to restructure its two existing businesses - Scientific Research and Biotechnology - as three new units headed Essentials, Specialties and Biotech.

Essentials, which accounts for 20% of the company's current sales, will offer customised account management to largely economic buyers in pharmaceutical, academic and commercial research organisations. It is to be headed by Gilles Cottier, former vice-president of sales.

The Specialties division, which accounts for 35% of sales, will offer specialty products through its website and catalogs to lab scientists. It will be headed up by David Julien, former president of the biotechnology business unit.

The Biotech division, accounting for 20% of sales, will provide research tools for life scientists and will be headed by Shaf Yousaf, former vice-president of corporate r&d and biotechnology marketing.

The company's final business, SAFC, which represents 25% of sales after the recent acquisition of JRH Biosciences, will not change. It covers fine chemical products and services for the pharma, biosciences and hi-tech industry, and is led by Frank Wicks, the unit's president since January 2003.

Commenting on the new structure, president and coo Jai Nagarkatti said: 'We believe this latest change and the strategies that support it should enable us to simultaneously excel in serving our customers, deliver10% top and bottom line growth long-term for our shareholders and provide exciting and challenging opportunities for our employees.'