Football is a big topic in Valencia, Spain. The city is home to two professional clubs – Valencia CF and Levante UD. It is also home to Joaquín López Ruiz, who has played a key role in several positions since signing for Grünenthal 25 years ago. Today, he brings a highly personalised approach to his role as a sales representative. He assists pain patients across communities in his native region by understanding their individual needs and building trust-based relationships with healthcare professionals. And Joaquín’s efforts to keep Grünenthal moving toward its targets and goals have helped to establish the company as a leader in the treatment of pain.

“This is an exciting job,” Joaquín says, “because I find new ways of interacting in the world of pain management every day.” Emotional intelligence, as well as a strong interest in the power of verbal and non-verbal communication, are the tools that enable Joaquín’s daily explorations of what is possible for pain treatment. He deeply values human interactions and recognises the importance of addressing the unique requirements of each client. In this way, he goes beyond promoting and marketing products to create truly meaningful relationships through his work. He acts as a trusted advisor and provides important support for healthcare professionals, while always looking for the best way to help patients who depend on Grünenthal’s innovative treatments.

Training is the key to Joaquín’s outstanding performance across quarter of a century. Continuous learning and access to educational resources enable him to provide high-quality services to customers. “We have very good training opportunities at Grünenthal," he says. “This has enabled me to stay at the cutting-edge of treatments.”

Joaquín’s attitude and expertise get real-world results. Recently, he worked with healthcare professionals to make a measurable impact on daily life for an elderly patient who was experiencing severe pain following surgery. Thanks to Joaquín’s support, the patient found relief and regained her quality of life. Successes like this give Joaquín a great sense of satisfaction.

“Our team is historic and honourable, like a football club,” he says. “Our vibrant team spirit is essential to professional and personal well-being. For me, working at Grünenthal is more than a job – it is a vocation. And I am excited to keep making a positive contribution toward our company’s shared vision of A World Free of Pain.”