Table of Contents
WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) awarded its Ivan D. Combe Lifetime Achievement Award Monday to longtime industry leader Tim Hayes. The annual award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. consumer healthcare industry recognizing the outstanding work and contributions of individuals whose actions have created a lasting impact on the people and the affairs of the consumer healthcare sector, and who have directly improved self-care for U.S. consumers.
The award is named in honor of Ivan D. Combe, an early industry leader and visionary who served on CHPA’s board of directors from 1958 until 2000. Each year, the award is presented to one deserving individual who, through a lifetime commitment to advancing consumer healthcare, has: (1) demonstrated exemplary leadership, character, confidence, and integrity; (2) dedicated time to the community through leading health projects or charitable initiatives; and, (3) showcased professional excellence, an innovative and collegial spirit, and commitment to industry activities and advocacy initiatives.
Hayes spent most of his career in the OTC business, working with a single company for 25 years until his departure from the company in 2017. He held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility over the years – customer management, marketing, and mergers & acquisitions – before becoming the president of the consumer care North America division of Bayer HealthCare LLC.
Under his leadership, Hayes helped Bayer HealthCare LLC achieve strong growth, with annual sales rising from $210 million to $3.4 billion during his tenure.
During his lengthy career in the industry, Hayes was actively involved with CHPA, where he chaired four different committees including the finance committee, the planning committee, the personnel committee, and eventually serving as chair of the of the CHPA Board of Directors from 2004-2006.
“Business can be tough, but Tim’s approach has always been very balanced and fair,” said Scott Melville, CHPA president and CEO. “He knows how to build great teams like few people in any industry, and his leadership is characterized by his humanity and mutual admiration and respect. He was committed not just to his own organization but to the industry. As a CHPA board member, Tim ensured that his company was there for the important events that we host, so that we were all coming up the learning curve together.”
Despite his busy work and travel schedule, Hayes managed to find time to serve as an assistant coach of his three sons’ athletic teams and was even Mendham High School’s football booster club president for several years. He supports the Donors Choose organization – a national non-profit group that helps public schools in high poverty areas with materials and classroom projects – and he is active with the American Heart Association (AHA), chairing three AHA Heart Walks between 1998-2000.
“Tim’s intelligence, humility, and transparency make for very personal and inspired relationships,” said Gary Downing, CHPA chair and current chief executive officer, Clarion Brands, LLC. “While at Bayer, he cared about the people who worked with him and for him and wanted to help them build their careers and enable them to grow and prosper. Ivan D. Combe dedicated his life to the well-being of others, and it’s clear that Tim shares that passion.”
