EVANSTON, Illinois, November 12 /PRNewswire/ -- To enhance the level of service it provides to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical products companies in the rapidly changing health care market in the Iberian Peninsula, international management consulting firm ZS Associates recently opened its first office in Spain, its 19th across the globe and sixth in Europe.

Building on 15 years of work with drug makers in the region, ZS will help clients across Spain and Portugal improve their commercial sales organizations to be continually at the forefront of the constantly evolving health care market.

Pharmaceutical companies in Spain have enjoyed unprecedented growth in recent years, but patent expirations, increased use of generics and the impact of the economy on regional health care budgets is forcing them to restructure and find ways to become more flexible and efficient, said Jaideep Bajaj, managing director of ZS Associates. Our experienced team will leverage both their local market experience in Spain and Portugal and our firm's global industry expertise to help clients adapt their commercial models to gain operational efficiencies, increase profitability and account for the various influencers affecting prescription decisions - from regional payers to opinion leaders to physician .

The new office in Barcelona is the latest example of ZS' growth over the past 25 years. Founded in 1983, the company offers sales and marketing consulting, capability building and outsourcing services to leading companies in numerous industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical products and services, financial services, transportation and high-tech. It now has more than 1,200 employees in 19 offices worldwide.

Experienced ZS Principal to Head New Office

Stefano DeSantis, a ZS principal, will guide the leadership team in Spain as office managing principal. He also will continue to serve as office managing principal for the ZS Associates office in Milan. Stefano has more than 11 years of management consulting experience in the global pharmaceutical and medical device industry. His global assignments have included work in Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Stefano's primary areas of expertise include commercial strategic planning, marketing effectiveness, cross-functional integration of the planning process, forecasting, pricing strategy and post-merger integrations.

Our extensive experience working with companies across the Iberian Peninsula over the past 15 years has provided us with deep insights into the health care market as well as the current challenges facing companies in the region, DeSantis said. We are excited to move closer to our clients and look forward to building new relationships with companies across Spain and Portugal. Our two-fold aim is to help clients gain a competitive edge with efficient sales models and results-driven marketing and to expand our presence across the region while delivering the quality, reliable work our clients have come to expect from ZS.

Stefano will be joined by Roberto Minetti, a manager in ZS' London office. Roberto has 15 years of experience, in both the management consulting and pharmaceutical industries in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil. At ZS Associates, he has worked with top pharmaceutical companies on sales and marketing strategy, market access and CRM. Roberto also has extensive experience in profitability turnarounds, designing and planning transitions to new commercial models, redesigning operational processes and integrating sales forces and product portfolios post-merger.

About ZS Associates

ZS Associates is a global management consulting firm specializing in sales and marketing consulting, capability building and outsourcing. Founded in 1983, the firm today is comprised of four affiliated legal entities with more than 1,200 professionals in 19 offices around the world. It has assisted more than 700 clients in 70 countries.

As one of the largest global consulting firms focused on sales and marketing, ZS Associates has experience across a broad range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical products and services, financial services, transportation and high-tech. ZS consultants combine deep expertise in sales and marketing with rigorous, fact-based analysis to help business leaders develop and implement effective sales and marketing strategies.

For more information on ZS Associates, call +1-847-492-3602 or visit www.zsassociates.com.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Roberto Minetti https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=91975 Stefano de Santis https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=91976

SOURCE: ZS Associates

CONTACT: Greg Austin of ZS Associates, +1-617-557-5834,greg.austin@zsassociates.com; or Anahita Wadia, Ext. 104,awadia@reynoldsgroup.com, or Mack Reynolds, Ext. 105,mreynolds@reynoldsgroup.com, both of The Reynolds Communications Group,+1-312-541-9300, for ZS Associates