Coulter Partners Opens in Paris, Expands Staff
April 11, 2019 – Life sciences-focused executive search firm Coulter Partners has continued its recent growth with the opening of new office in Paris and 14 new appointments worldwide. All of this follows an extremely successful year which saw the firm’s revenues increase by 31 percent, making Coulter one of the fastest growing search firms this past year.
“Another remarkable year for the life sciences industry worldwide has driven further spectacular growth at Coulter Partners and we look forward to announcing new appointments in AsiaPac in the course of 2019,” said Bianca Coulter, CEO. “Meanwhile, I welcome the latest shining additions to our stellar cast.”
Hugues Petit joins Coulter Partners as client partner and head of the new Paris office. Mr. Petit draws on over 20 years’ experience in international search, predominantly in life sciences. With a focus on C-suite, board and senior-level search for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, he has a special interest in consumer health, oncology and R&D.
Mr. Petit most recently served as group managing director at STRAMMER, a talent acquisition company focused on life sciences. There, he was founder and global head of the executive search top management practice. Mr. Petit brings substantial expertise in leadership consulting for international retained search firms. He gained search experience in various roles with L3S Partnership, Euromedica, Harvey Nash and InterSearch.
New Additions
Coulter Partners also added Nicola Harding as executive director in London. She executes senior- and board-level global executive search across the pharmaceuticals, biotech, med tech and consumer healthcare sectors, with a strong focus on medical, clinical and commercial roles.
Ms. Harding brings extensive expertise in life sciences search, gained working for over 25 years with leading international executive search firms, Previously, she spent 12 years with the RSA Group, where she served as partner. Earlier in her search career, she spent time with Talentmark Executive Search, MSL Search & Selection and Korn Ferry. In addition to her experience in global search, Ms. Harding draws on five years in international sales, market development and medical communications in the global pharmaceutical industry and previously worked as a pharmacist in London teaching hospitals and in the Middle East.
John Durkey joins the U.S. team in Cambridge, MA as executive director. His focus is senior-level international search across the broad spectrum of commercial and scientific disciplines in the biotechnology, medical devices and pharmaceuticals sectors. He possesses over 20 years of experience in retained executive search partnering with privately held, emerging growth and global multinational companies.
Mr. Durkey brings substantial experience working across multiple sectors and geographies for leading global executive search firms and most recently with Harvey Nash, where he built the life sciences practice in North America. Before that, he was partner in the life sciences and technology practices of Jobplex. Earlier in his career, Mr. Durkey gained search experience with ZRG Partners and the Onstott Group.
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Coulter Partners also named Gert Andersen as executive director in Copenhagen. He is engaged in C-suite and senior level international executive search for the pharmaceuticals, med tech and nutrition sectors with an emphasis on market access, marketing, medical affairs, regulatory affairs and general management. Mr. Andersen draws on extensive experience gained over 20 years in the pharmaceutical and talent acquisition/management industries in Europe and North America.
Previously, Mr. Andersen spent 14 years in a wide variety of roles with Bristol-Myers Squibb and previously with Boehringer Ingelheim. He holds an master’s of science degree in biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Copenhagen Business School.
Promotion
Coulter Partners also announced the promotion of Kay Wardle to managing partner. Dr. Wardle has over 20 years’ life science search experience and extensive R&D expertise. “I feel highly privileged to have been asked to join the management team at such an exciting time for both Coulter Partners and the wider life sciences industry,” she said. “A key growth area for our business is the recruitment of senior R&D leadership roles in organizations which are truly pioneering the discovery and development of next generation therapeutics, diagnostics and technologies. Our growing global team of Ph.D.s. and M.D.s positions us well to deliver on these complex and challenging searches.”
“It is a great pleasure to have Kay join the managing partners, with all her wisdom and experience, at this exciting time,” said Ms. Coulter.
Coulter Partners is a senior-level executive search boutique focused exclusively on identifying global life sciences leaders and board directors. The firm serves clients in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, CRO and services sectors. Coulter operates overseas offices in the U.K., Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. In the U.S., the firm has offices in Cambridge, MA; Princeton, NJ; Pittsburgh; Los Angeles; and Short Hills, NJ.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
