Caldwell Grows Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice
February 9, 2026 – Toronto-headquartered Caldwell has expanded with the addition of Christoph Themel as a partner in the firm’s life sciences and healthcare practice. He is based in London. “Christoph’s appointment reflects our continued investment in building a strong, globally integrated life sciences and healthcare practice,” said Chris Beck, chief executive officer. “His international experience and sector depth expand our leadership advisory capabilities and strengthen the value we deliver to clients as they navigate increasingly complex and consequential talent decisions.”
“Christoph brings exceptional depth in life sciences and healthcare, combined with a thoughtful, relationship-driven advisory style that resonates strongly with boards and leadership teams,” said John Blank, managing partner of Caldwell’s life sciences and healthcare practice. “He joins Caldwell at a moment when leadership in this sector is becoming increasingly complex and globally interconnected, so his ability to advise boards and investors on succession, organizational design, and long-term leadership capability across markets will be a significant asset to our clients and to the continued evolution of our firm.”
Dr. Themel advises boards, investors, and senior leadership teams on executive and non-executive appointments, leadership assessments, and succession planning across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and animal health sectors.
With more than 20 years of experience in executive search and leadership advisory, he is a trusted advisor to big and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, family-owned enterprises, private equity firms, and portfolio company leadership teams across Europe, the U.S., and Asia Pacific. Dr. Themel is particularly known for his ability to partner closely with shareholders and management teams on C-suite succession, senior-level development, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. He has experience delivering executive search, management appraisal, and leadership development engagements in evolving and highly regulated environments. His work is characterized by a strong focus on aligning leadership capability with business strategy and culture, while fostering environments of inclusion, innovation, and impact.
Prior to joining Caldwell, Dr. Themel was a partner in the healthcare and life sciences practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Earlier in his career, he was a partner at Coulter Partners, a boutique executive search firm specializing in life sciences, with offices around the globe.
Caldwell Partners is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm headquartered in Toronto that recruits board, CEO, and other senior executive leaders for clients across multiple industries in North America and Europe. The firm is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Sports & Entertainment Practice
Caldwell recently launched a sports & entertainment practice, a new global sector group dedicated to connecting senior leaders with organizations at the intersection of sports, technology, media, entertainment, and investment. “As our clients increase their investments in sports, media, and entertainment, we’re launching this specialty practice to support their expanding portfolios,” said Mr. Beck. “From emerging sports technology platforms and analytics companies to digital media ventures and large-scale venue development, our clients are shaping the future of how the world experiences sports and entertainment.”
Related: Caldwell Appoints CEO; Makes Other Senior Management Changes
The sports & entertainment practice will be structured around Peter Anselmo and Garrick Respress and further leverages the firm’s global network of partners across the technology, media & entertainment, consumer, infrastructure, and investment sectors, ensuring clients have access to cross-industry insights and leadership solutions tailored to the evolving sports economy. “As former collegiate athletes, Peter and Garrick will bring a collaborative, team-oriented approach to executive search, uniquely positioning Caldwell to unite experts across the platform and lead the firm’s expansion into the sports and entertainment market,” the firm said.
Caldwell Expands Financial Services and Real Estate Practices
Caldwell has expanded with the addition of Ben Sturnham as a partner in the firm’s financial services and real estate practices. Based in London, he advises clients on board and C-suite recruitment across the full breadth of the real estate, financial services, and real estate finance sectors in the U.K., Europe, and the Middle East. “Ben is a deeply respected search professional whose insight, credibility, and sector knowledge make him an exceptional advisor to clients across the financial services and real estate capital ecosystem,” said Glenn Buggy and Paul Heller, global managing partners of Caldwell’s financial services practice. “His appointment meaningfully strengthens the connective tissue between our practices and expands our ability to support clients across global markets. We are very pleased to welcome him.”
Earlier this fall, Caldwell opened a new office in Dubai. Rob Wilder was appointed managing partner of the office. He will be joined in Dubai by Simon Hall, partner in Caldwell’s financial services practice. The launch marks Caldwell’s entry into the Middle East and North Africa region. “With more than 25 years of experience advising organizations on board and executive succession, leadership assessment and development, and executive search, Rob has established himself as a trusted advisor to clients in the Middle East and globally,” said Mr. Heller and Mr. Buggy. “His deep knowledge of the region, combined with his extensive experience across financial services, fintech, and private equity, will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our practice.”
“This strategic expansion into Dubai is an important milestone for Caldwell as we continue to build a truly global platform,” said Mr. Beck. “Rob’s leadership, regional expertise, and global perspective will enable us to better serve clients in the Middle East and North Africa, and his appointment underscores our commitment to investing in markets that are critical to our clients’ success. With a truly global perspective, Mr. Wilder brings extensive cross-cultural expertise to leadership evaluation, having lived and worked across three continents.”
Related: Caldwell Launches Academic Healthcare Practice
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
