Galderma, the Swiss skincare and aesthetics giant has picked Miami for its new U.S. HQ
Galderma, the Swiss skincare and aesthetics giant behind brands like Cetaphil, Dysport, and Sculptra, has picked Miami as the new nerve center of its U.S. operations – a move that reflects more than just sunshine and skyline.
The newly opened headquarters in Brickell signals a strategic pivot for the $50 billion dermatology powerhouse, which has outgrown its traditional corporate footprint in Boston and Fort Worth. “We were struggling to find aesthetics and consumer health talent willing to move to Boston,” said CEO Flemming Ørnskov at the Miami launch event. “Then I looked around and realized – our customers are already here.”
By setting up shop in one of the fastest-growing life sciences corridors in the country, Galderma is positioning itself closer to top-tier medical talent, a booming aesthetic clinic scene, and a multicultural consumer base that aligns with its global ambitions. The office is expected to grow from 50 to 150 employees by 2028, with roles spanning commercial operations, marketing, clinical development, and analytics.
For now, the team is operating out of a WeWork at 801 Brickell, part of Ørnskov’s broader playbook for entering new markets with flexibility and speed. “In every country we’ve launched in, we’ve started in a WeWork,” he said. “It keeps people hungry, collaborative, and focused on the work – not the furniture.”
This startup-style mindset has been part of Galderma’s reinvention since Ørnskov led a group of global investors – including EQT, ADIA, and Temasek – in acquiring the dermatology division from Nestlé in 2019 for over $10 billion. Since then, the company has doubled its employee base to more than 9,000, expanded into over 90 countries, and gone public on the SIX Swiss Exchange in one of Europe’s largest IPOs of 2024.
In the U.S., Galderma now maintains a research hub in Boston, Alastin’s headquarters in Carlsbad, California, and a distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas. Miami, Ørnskov said, completes the puzzle by anchoring its commercial and consumer-facing operations in a market that feels increasingly like home turf.
The Miami launch comes as Galderma reported record-breaking first-half results: $2.45 billion in net sales, up 12.2% year-on-year, driven by strong demand across all three business segments. The company’s prescription portfolio, led by its blockbuster biologic Nemluvio, posted 27% growth, while its aesthetics business continued to gain market share in both the U.S. and international markets.
“Nemluvio alone delivered $131 million in just six months,” said Ørnskov. “And our aesthetics portfolio is performing strongly even in a competitive, promotion-heavy environment.”
Sculptra, a collagen-stimulating injectable originally developed by Sanofi, is now Galderma’s fastest-growing product globally. And while most of its aesthetics manufacturing still happens in Europe – Restylane in Sweden, Sculptra in France – Galderma is already carrying out final-stage production of some therapeutic biologics in Florida through a local partner.
Tariffs on imported biologics remain a concern, but so far, Ørnskov says the company has managed to absorb the impact without raising prices. “If anything, prices on fillers in the U.S. have actually been going down,” he noted. “It’s a competitive space, and doctors are often passing discounts directly to patients.”
Building a Pipeline – and a Workforce
Newly appointed U.S. President Heather Wallace, who joined from Curology and Revlon, said Miami offers more than warm weather and tax incentives. “This is a city where healthcare, retail, and aesthetics converge,” she said. “We need teams who understand that intersection – people who know what influences a consumer’s skincare decision and what a dermatologist expects from a treatment.”
Wallace and Ørnskov say the company is hiring across functions – from marketing and sales to clinical research and finance – and that Miami’s diverse talent pool has already exceeded their expectations.
“We were a little nervous at first,” Ørnskov admitted. “But the people we’ve met here – especially in consumer health and aesthetics – have been incredibly impressive. Smart, driven, and entrepreneurial.”
Looking Ahead
As the Miami team settles into its new role, Ørnskov says the company’s focus remains squarely on growth. “We’re launching new products in all 90+ markets every quarter. Innovation is our engine.”
Galderma is currently investing in next-generation biologics and diagnostics, including new trials for systemic sclerosis and chronic pruritus.
But for now, Ørnskov is betting that Brickell’s blend of global connectivity, medical infrastructure, and entrepreneurial energy will help Galderma stay ahead in an increasingly crowded dermatology race. “We don’t think about teeth, or hair, or nails,” he said. “Just skin. And in Miami, we’ve found a place that shares our obsession.”
