John L. Bishop had an idea that he strongly believed would make Cepheid a whole lot of money. He just needed to convince everyone else at the molecular diagnostics company that it was a path worth pursuing. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Cepheid had gone to work on a biodetection hazard system for the United States Postal Service. It was a big contract and would bring Cepheid a lot of revenue. But Bishop, CEO, felt that the company’s technology could be even more profitable in the clinical market. As the opportunities in the biothreat business continued to grow, it seemed as if that was the way to go. But Bishop remained steadfast in his belief that a commitment to clinical research and development would pay off in the long run. So he continued to drive strong investment in that area and a number of other initiatives geared toward keeping critical competencies in-house. He wanted Cepheid to take greater control of the whole process so that aspects wouldn’t have to be farmed out to third-party companies. Manufacturing would be kept close to research and development so innovation could easily be shared and implemented. Innovation and the relentless pursuit of a clear vision would be key to the company’s success. Years later, with the company significantly larger than it was in 2002, Bishop’s leadership strategy is paying off. Cepheid now has a compelling competitive differentiation that is proving attractive in the marketplace with a fully integrated business operation that is capable of supporting rapid and prolonged growth. Employees are excited and retention has been high. The result is a new technology that was recently endorsed by the World Health Organization and can now contribute to higher standards of patient care and improved patient outcomes all over the world. How to reach: Cepheid, (408) 541-4191 or www.cepheid.com
