Focus Search Partners Continues Expansion
May 17, 2017 – Focus Search Partners, the executive search division of talent solutions provider Vaco, has brought aboard Richard D’Antoni as managing partner of the firm’s healthcare and private equity practices.
Mr. D’Antoni has more than 20 years of experience in matching high-performing executives with leading healthcare companies, ranging from venture capital and private equity-backed portfolio companies to publicly held organizations. He has expertise in an array of executive functional positions, including: finance, business development, compliance, sales, marketing, operations, human resources, CEO and board roles.
Over his career, Mr. D’Antoni has held CEO, COO and board member positions and has raised millions of dollars in venture capital for early-stage healthcare companies such as Cellcore, Pathology Partners and ProMedCo Management Company. He has participated in three IPOs and two public company mergers. In 2002, Mr. D’Antoni founded the national healthcare executive search firm D’Antoni Partners. Over the last 15 years, his firm has worked with companies such as Bain, KKR, ABRY, Beecken Petty & O’Keefe & Company, Candescent Partners, HIG Growth, Mainsail, Altamont, Water Street, and General Catalyst, among others. Earlier in his career, he gained search experience with Korn Ferry.
“Richard has an exceptional background operating equity-sponsored healthcare companies as well as providing high quality retained search to investors, board and executive teams,” said Paul Frankenberg, founder and managing partner of Focus Search Partners. “He fits perfectly and his clients and candidates speak highly of their experience with him. Focus Search Partners is in the midst of continued growth and expansion.”
“It is very clear that today, more than ever, there is a need for a broader array of human capital resources to address the leadership issues facing healthcare companies,” said Mr. D’Antoni. “Focus Search Partners, with the larger Vaco family, are providing resources to growing companies across the U.S. D’Antoni Partners needed to either develop these or join with a likeminded entrepreneurial team. We searched and determined that Paul and his team were the right partners to continue servicing our clients while providing seamless executive search.” He said Vaco’s proven services in interim management, managed services and recruiting provided those extended resources to support its client’s growth and value creation plans.
The addition of Mr. D’Antoni follows the firm’s naming of Steve Finder as managing partner of its global technology and financial officers practice. Based in San Francisco, he is tasked with leading a team of consultants and adding new market sectors, including additional depth in enterprise software, space/frontier technology and cybersecurity. Mr. Finder has more than 20 years of experience in matching high-performing executives with leading technology companies, ranging from venture capital and private equity-backed portfolio companies to publicly held organizations. He previously co-founded Ferguson Partners.
Expansion Plans Continue
Last year, Focus Search Partners acquired California-based firm Charlson Partners to expand into the technology space. Founder Adam Charlson has recruited senior leaders for a variety of companies in the space, including Adobe Systems, Cisco, Cornerstone OnDemand, Convergys, DataPipe, Experian, FICO, Google, HP, Infor Global Solutions, Informatica, JDA Software, Microsoft, PayPal, Progress Software, Salesforce.com, SAP, Sitel, TeleTech and Verint, among others.
Focus Search Partners was acquired in 2014 to become the executive search division of Vaco, a consulting and strategic solutions firm. The company specializes in matching high-caliber board members, executives and senior-level individuals with leading technology and healthcare services organizations across the U.S.
Vaco has undergone a wave of growth recently with four acquisitions over the last 18 months, reflecting its clients’ growing need for its managed services, business process and technology outsourcing operations. At the end of last year, Vaco acquired Pivot Point Consulting based in Seattle and boutique executive search firm Greythorn in Bellevue, WA. The new acquisitions bring together more than 50 employees and 250 consultants across the nation.
Pivot Point Consulting, a healthcare IT consulting firm that provides implementation, staff augmentation and advisory services for healthcare provider organizations, has employees in 30 states and provides services to more than 40 healthcare organizations, including large multi-hospital networks, academic institutions, pediatric hospitals and local community clinics. Greythorn specializes in placing top executives within the healthcare IT sector. In addition to executive search, the firm provides various talent management services, including training, leadership support, strategy and planning, project management, and staff engagement and retention solutions.
Vaco also opened its second New Jersey location in Saddle Brook. Search industry veteran Leon Downes joined the firm from Solomon Page to lead the office as managing director. He has over 15 years of recruiting experience across accounting, finance, operations and administration.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
