Member Spotlight: Jonny Davys - Dr. Wolff Group

18 February 2025

This month, we had the chance to sit down with Jonny, General Manager for Dr. Wolff UK & Ireland, to find out how they’re settling into their new office.

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Introducing Dr. Wolff – a pharmaceuticals and cosmetics company here at One Silk Street – you might recognise them from their iconic household brand names like Alpecin and Plantur 39.

Dr. Wolff has been on an exciting upward trajectory, expanding their product lines and growing their talented team. Naturally, we're curious to uncover the secrets behind their success.

With their brand-new office now up and running, we had the perfect opportunity to sit down with Jonny, the General Manager for the UK and Ireland, to get the inside scoop on their expansion. And, of course, we couldn’t resist grabbing a few complimentary shampoos while we were at it!

Hi Jonny! Can you tell us a bit about Dr. Wolff and what you do here in Manchester?

Of course! Dr. Wolff Group is a pharma-cosmetics company that originated in Bielefeld, Germany. We launched the Alpecin brand in the UK back in 2008 through a distributor, then, in November 2023, we set up a UK team to run the business directly, now with a portfolio of brands that include Alpecin, Plantur 39, Dr. Wolff’s V-San, and Bioniq. We’re a subsidiary of Dr. Wolff, and we’re growing within the UK market, but we have a very lean team. I'm the General Manager for the UK and Ireland, and recently, we’ve also taken on responsibilities for Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, running this all from our base here in Ancoats, Manchester.

At Dr. Wolff, we are problem solvers. We focus on tackling specific challenges our consumers face. Through our leading brands – like Alpecin, Plantur, and Dr. Wolff’s V-San – we address issues like hereditary hair loss in men, menopause-related hair loss, and vaginal dryness. We’re not afraid to talk about sensitive or taboo topics, which I believe really sets us apart from other brands.

Our consumers trust us because they know exactly what we offer. We’re not just another cosmetics company. Each of our brands has a clear purpose, designed to solve a specific problem. We’re all about providing long-term value, and we ensure our messaging is clear and to the point. We also invest heavily in research and development to ensure our products perform.

Jonny Davys, General Manager at Dr. Wolff Group UK & Ireland

You’ve recently moved into a bigger office at Colony One Silk Street. How are you finding it?

It’s been brilliant! Our team has been slowly growing over the past couple of years. When we first moved to Silk two and a half years ago, there were only three of us. Since then, we’ve moved offices twice, and now we have 10 permanent team members, along with regular visitors from our global offices. As an organisation, we operate with lean teams whilst ensuring everyone has a clear role to play – and this enables us to remain agile.

At Silk, we have talent within the team covering marketing, sales, and finance. For the past two years, we’ve also been taking on placement students from Manchester universities. It’s great that we’re in a position to bring on local talent, and currently, we have two students with us until June.

Silk offers us the flexibility we need, and it’s adapted as we’ve expanded. Colony has always done the future-proofing for us, which is one of the big benefits of being here. There’s plenty of room for gradual growth, making it a smart investment for us.

What advice would you give to smaller businesses looking to expand?

Start small, then grow gradually with your business. Think carefully about the expertise you need on your team. What skills are missing that you want to bring to your business to help grow it? Don’t get stuck on a number; it’s about making sure everyone plays a key part and understands exactly what they need to do.

Ensure you have a long-term strategy and a clear vision – one that new and existing team members can buy into. This ensures you are all moving in the same direction.

We recently had a very successful day in one of Silk’s meeting rooms, The Observatory, where we held a brainstorming session and workshop to map out our 2025 execution plans. It was a fantastic space for this, and it was nice to have a change of scenery for a bit. The room is sizable, with 360-degree views of Manchester, which is far better than the typical concrete meeting room you might get elsewhere. Silk allows us to create these areas where we can focus, have our privacy, and get inspired.

What’s next on the cards for you, your team and your business?

Growth is definitely on our agenda. We’re looking to expand our product range and explore new categories. For example, we have new products coming in oral care with Bioniq and more to come across the Dr. Wolff V-San brand – so definitely watch this space!

We’ll continue to meet our customers’ needs with our current products as well. Alpecin Grey Attack, for example, is in its second year and remains our best-performing NPD. The new Plantur 39 Anti-Grey Effect Shampoo, which launched last year, is also widely stocked in drugstores and retail stores now.

What’s one of your favourite things about working in Manchester?

Manchester is a city full of passion, and it’s quickly becoming an even more significant city in the UK and Europe. We’re seeing a lot of businesses moving here from London, and there seems to be a real buzz in the city.

People from Manchester tend to feel a sense of nostalgia for Ancoats. It’s the heart of the industrial revolution, and now it’s been modernised – making it an inspirational place to be.

It’s a fantastic location, on the edge of the city, away from the hustle and bustle, but still close to everything with great transport links. We’re also close to our media agencies, which allows us to meet with them frequently without excessive travel. Plus, the team lives locally, so we can enjoy flexible working while still being in the office regularly.

Given the requirements of your business, what made you choose to use a serviced workspace instead of a traditional office?

First and foremost, Silk has very attentive staff. If there’s an issue, the leadership team is quick to resolve it. They take care of all the fundamentals – like the electrics, Wi-Fi, and general management – so everything we need is right here under one roof.

Silk meets all our needs. The storage space is crucial for our trade shows and storing stock. We also have meeting rooms for team discussions, dining facilities, and great networking opportunities.

Finally, traditional offices can often feel sterile. Companies would spend millions to replicate the same level of care, attention, and inspirational design that we get in our breakout spaces. It’s definitely a “wow” location that has helped to attract talent into our team.

A big thank you to Jonny for taking the time to chat with us and give us an inside look at their exciting journey. We appreciate the warm welcome and, of course, the generous shampoo samples! We can’t wait to see where they go from here!

If you're expanding your team and considering a move to one of our private offices, click the link below to book a tour!