Coulter Partners Opens in Sydney and Singapore, Makes Three Key Appointments
May 31, 2019 – Life sciences-focused executive search firm Coulter Partners has opened new offices in Sydney and Singapore in addition to making three key appointments. Steven Johnson joins the firm as executive director in Sydney, while Martin Grindrod takes over as director in Singapore.
In London, Rob Sansom joins as director to consolidate the international commercial pharmaceutical team. He will be working alongside Anne-Monika Dürk, Gert Andersen, Christoph Themel, Mark Sharp and recently appointed Hugues Petit.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Steve, Martin and Rob to the team, following a remarkable year of growth for the life sciences industry and for Coulter Partners worldwide,” said Bianca Coulter, CEO. “The goal for 2019 is to build our existing search work in Japan, Singapore and Australia into the wider Asia-Pacific region, including China, as well as to extend our knowledge and expertise of the commercial functions of big pharma through these high-caliber appointments.”
Mr. Johnson brings more than 20 years of executive search consulting experience across all of Asia, Australia and New Zealand. With a broad focus on C-suite and senior executive search across pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotech and public health, he draws on extensive search expertise in general management and senior leadership roles for sales and marketing, technical, regulatory affairs, market access, medical affairs, quality, compliance, as well as enabling functions such as financial and human resources management.
Mr. Johnson began his career in the pharmaceuticals industry in Australia, initially with Schering AG (now Bayer) in 1991, followed by Fisons UK Operations (now Sanofi). From there, he went into recruitment in the U.K. and was hired to build a Sydney-based Asia-Pacific life sciences practice from start-up across Asia and Australia. During his search career he has worked with Boyden, ExecutiveSurf, and Hamilton Search. Mr. Johnson also ran his own search business, Johnson Associates Executive Search.
Mr. Grindrod will establish Coulter Partners’ presence in Singapore, executing senior-level global executive search for the pharmaceutical, biotech, biopharma, CRO and medical device sectors and covering the spectrum of scientific and commercial roles. He draws on over 19 years of broad experience of international search. Since 2006, he has focused exclusively on the life sciences.
Mr. Grindrod brings a substantial record in global executive search across the region, with a recent emphasis on medical, clinical development, country general manager, quality and regulatory roles. Most recently, Mr. Grindrod was partner, Asia-Pacific, for ProClinical Executive. He also gained search experience EMA Partners International and Hays Life Sciences.
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Mr. Sansom will focus on C-suite, board and senior global executive search, covering medical, commercial and financial roles for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical technology companies. Bringing over 20 years’ broad experience of life science search for early stage to mid and large cap international companies, he most recently opened the London office as managing director U.K. for international search firm STRAMMER. Before that, he has held managing partner and partner roles with international specialist executive recruiters the RSA Group and Locumedicus Recruitment. He also worked for over six years in the pharmaceutical industry.
Life Sciences Specialists
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, PA; Los Angeles; and Short Hills, NJ.
In April, Coulter Partners opened a new office in Paris. Mr. Petit joined the firm as client partner and head of the new Paris office. Mr. Petit draws on over 20 years’ experience in international search, predominantly in the 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.
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
