Coulter Partners Opens New Office in Brussels, Expands Search Staff
November 22, 2019 – Life sciences-focused executive search firm Coulter Partners has expanded with the opening of a new office in Brussels and six recent appointments. Penny Sadler joins the firm’s medtech expertise as client partner in Brussels, while Nanna Soni is appointed director in London to the R&D center of expertise. The Paris office expands with the additions of Nicolas Leray as executive director and Mélanie Blanchard as senior consultant. Gwen Gioia joins as senior consultant in Short Hills, NJ, and Heike Haertling becomes a senior consultant in Frankfurt.
“We are delighted to welcome more exceptional colleagues to the team, as we continue to build our medtech and R&D capabilities and deepen our geographic presence across Europe,” said Joe Coulter, chief operating officer.
Ms. Sadler will head the Belgium office for Coulter Partners. She draws on 26 years’ global search experience working with emerging and established companies across life sciences, which included 15 years with Spencer Stuart and seven years with Korn Ferry. A lead on C-suite and senior international executive search, she brings specialist knowledge in medical devices, diagnostics and government affairs, as well as substantial expertise in Benelux pharmaceuticals and biotech. With a recent focus on EMEA and on general management, R&D, government affairs, sales and marketing roles, Ms. Sadler joins Coulter Partners from a talent management consultancy, where she was responsible for building the medtech executive search practice.
Dr. Soni will be responsible for senior-level global executive search across the spectrum of life sciences, with special emphasis on scientific and R&D roles. She draws on nearly 20 years’ extensive experience of R&D leadership, organizational development and change management roles in global pharmaceutical and biotech companies, which included over 14 years within Novozymes R&D.
Mr. Leray joins the Paris office to focus on C-level and senior international executive search across all scientific, commercial and technical functions in life sciences, with an emphasis on general management roles. He draws on a substantial track record gained over 14 years in executive search, partnering with leading niche players as well as large cap corporations within life sciences. Most recently, Mr. Leray served as managing director, France for European life science talent consultancy STRAMMER. He has additional expertise gained across the cosmetics and luxury goods sectors.
Ms. Blanchard also joins Coulter Partners in Paris with a focus on senior global executive search across a broad range of scientific, technical and commercial roles for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology companies. She draws on over 15 years’ executive search experience for leading international search firms, with an emphasis on senior director and general management roles.
Ms. Gioia is responsible for C-suite and senior global executive search assignments across the spectrum of scientific and commercial roles for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare and medical technology companies. With over 20 years’ international executive search experience gained with Korn Ferry and in talent acquisition for the life sciences, consumer healthcare, nutraceuticals and technology sectors across the U.S., EMEA and LATAM, Ms. Gioia brings a track record of strategic talent consulting for some of the world’s most innovative organizations in the public and private sectors.
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Ms. Haertling joins the Frankfurt team to focus on C-suite and senior global executive search assignments across all functions for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology companies. She draws on six years of executive search experience for the life sciences, chemical and FMCG sectors with international search firms and was most recently a consultant with Korn Ferry.
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.
Coulter Partners recently 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.
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; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
