28 CHEMICALS KNOWLEDGE HUB Issue 2 / October 2025 CDMO on-site. What began as a chance introduction over coffee turned into a long-term strategic partnership. It reminded me that the essence of CPHI isn’t just about scale or deals done on the show floor – it’s about creating the environment where those connections can happen naturally. ES. One of my strongest memories is sitting down with a marketing manager, who admitted they felt overwhelmed – not by the science, but by how to make their company’s message stand out in such a crowded market. That moment reminded me that the real essence of CPHI isn’t the exhibition floor itself, it’s the moments when people feel safe enough to be honest about their challenges, whether that’s competing with hundreds of booths or making a limited budget stretch further. For us, that’s where the real value is: understanding those pressures and figuring out how to help marketers overcome them. OA. My very first CPHI was in Milan, 2021, as we were emerging from the pandemic. There was nervousness about whether large events would ‘be back’, and while it was quieter than the years that followed, it was clear that being together in person meant something profound. I remember meeting clients face-to-face after so long on video calls. That simple human connection felt like the true essence of CPHI. It reminded me that while the science and services on show are impressive, it’s the relationships, trust and conversations that last. How did that moment shape your perspective on the value of attending CPHI? TD. I think it reinforces the power of events, of bringing people together face-to-face, there is nothing like it. It also reinforced that CPHI is not only a marketplace, but a catalyst for collaboration. Can you share a story or moment from CPHI that illustrates the power of human connection in driving industry change? RS. One of my earliest CPHI experiences captures this perfectly. Around 13 or 14 years ago, I met a guy called Harry at my very first CPHI. His company’s stand happened to be next to mine at the time and, in a slightly surreal twist, I ended up selling him a capsule filling machine we had lying around that wasn’t being used. It was such a random, funny moment, essentially doing a deal from the booth opposite us. Harry and I kept in touch over the years, catching up at industry events and via LinkedIn. Fast forward to 2016/2017 and out of the blue he reached out about helping with marketing when they were creating Ardena. That led to us building the Ardena brand, managing M&A integration work and them becoming a ramarketing client, which they still are, eight years later. Looking back, it’s more than just a quirky story. It represents one of the earliest examples of the CDMO roll-up trend in our space – bringing together bestin-class, complementary service providers to create something bigger. That kind of connection, born at CPHI, really did end up driving industry change. What have been your key takeaways from CPHI over the years, and why do you keep going back? RS. If anything, CPHI has become even more important since Covid. The exhibition floor is just the start. The real value comes from all the things that happen around it: pre-event dinners, breakfast meetings, speaking opportunities, panel discussions, networking drinks, award ceremonies, educational sessions. It’s a unique environment where you can meet dozens, if not hundreds of people in a few days. There’s simply no better place to make those industry connections. Do you have one moment that taught you about the true essence of CPHI, beyond the booths and business cards? TD. Yes, one that really stands out was seeing a smaller biotech company connect with a major ROUNDTABLE TARA DOUGAL Event Director CPHI Europe EMILY SNIPE Account Director Notch Communications OLIVIA ADDINALL Head of Client Services Ramarketing
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