Otsuka names first Pinoy president

After 10 years in the country, Otsuka (Philippines) Pharmaceutical Inc. announced the appointment of its first Filipino president and general manager, Leopoldo Dimerin. 

Dimerin started as the sales and marketing director of Otsuka in 2006. Prior to joining the company, he served as the vice president of the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President.

At the PITC, he introduced the Botika ng Bayan to the public, making medicines available, accessible, and affordable to the market.

Dimerin graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas with a degree in BS Commerce, Major in Economics. He also attended the Management Development Program of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. 

He started his career in February 1996, undergoing training to be a medical representative for Abbott Laboratories Inc. Since then he rose from the ranks, having held several senior management positions in Sanofi-Synthelabo Philippines, Aventis Pharma, and Hoechst Marion Roussel Philippines Inc. 

Dimerin has had over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, business development, office management, and interpersonal communications in the pharmaceutical industry.