DHR Global Acquires Life Sciences-Focused Discovery Search Partners
October 21, 2026 – Talent advisory firm DHR Global has acquired Discovery Search Partners, a retained executive search firm focused on the life sciences industry. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bill O’Callaghan of Discovery Search Partners will join DHR as managing partner and Don Evans will join as partner, while Brian Evans will help build out the life sciences vertical at Jobplex. Together, they bring deep expertise across the medical device, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology spaces.
“The depth of experience and tenure across the Discovery Search Partners’ team greatly elevates our ability to find high-caliber leaders across the life sciences industry,” said Priya Taneja, CEO of DHR. “Their reputation and standard of excellence in the space are unparalleled and perfectly align with what we look for in DHR partners.”
Established by Mr. O’Callaghan and Mr. Evans in 2009, Discovery Search Partners has recruited leaders for a wide range of clients in the life sciences space, from multinational Fortune 500 companies to pre-revenue start-up enterprises.
Mr. O’Callaghan has more than 20 years of experience in executive search, human capital consulting, and talent management. Before founding Discovery Search Partners, he managed global operations and finance for a major retained executive search firm, with responsibility for its North American life sciences, consumer, and industrial products businesses.
Mr. Evans has more than 25 years of executive search experience. His work includes recruiting board directors, presidents, vice presidents, chief medical officers, chief commercial officers, chief information officers, and senior regulatory affairs and R&D leaders for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical services organizations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Evans was a senior consultant with two global executive search firms focused on life sciences and healthcare.
“Discovery Search Partners was built on doing right by clients and candidates, and in getting to know DHR’s people, we saw that same commitment and felt the same values,” said Mr. O’Callaghan. “DHR’s collaborative culture and global office network will enable us to grow our life sciences work further and faster than we could as an independent firm and carry forward the legacy of what was started at Discovery Search Partners.”
“Emerging leaders represent the next generation of executives, and life sciences companies need that bench as much as they need strong leadership at the top,” said Justin Hirsch, CEO of Jobplex. “Brian brings the relationships and industry knowledge Discovery Search Partners has built since 2009, and he will lead the build-out of our life sciences vertical so clients can work with one connected team, from the C-suite through the next generation as well.”
“The acquisition marks a significant step in DHR’s continued growth in the life sciences sector,” the firm explained. “Clients of Discovery Search Partners will continue to work with the same trusted team, now supported by DHR’s global reach and full suite of talent solutions, from executive search and leadership consulting to emerging leader search through Jobplex.”
Related: M&A in the Search Industry: How Consolidation Is Reshaping Who Wins
Since 1989, DHR Global has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly owned offices spanning the globe. The firm’s consultants specialize in all industries and functions, providing senior-level executive search, management assessment, and succession planning services.
Recent Acquisition
Jobplex recently acquired Ascension Sports Partners, an executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and collegiate athletics. Ascension founder and president Dan Rossetti joined Jobplex as a partner, working alongside DHR’s sports practice. “This acquisition marks an important expansion of our sports practice,” said Glenn Sugiyama, managing partner and global practice leader at DHR. “Dan has built a substantial search business with an impressive track record of serving the emerging leaders’ market for sports organizations, and he’ll work closely with my team to create new and innovative ways to take Jobplex Sports to the same world class leadership position as DHR Sports.”
Jobplex has acquired Her Scout, a boutique recruiting firm that specialized in early and growth-stage technology startups, and named its founder, Amy York, a partner in the firm’s advanced technology practice. The acquisition expands Jobplex’s capabilities in emerging technology and founder-led businesses, particularly among small, scaling companies that build leadership teams during early stages of growth. “Adding Amy strengthens our ability to support companies at an earlier stage, where leadership decisions carry significant weight,” said Justin Hirsch, CEO and HR practice group leader at Jobplex. “She’s adept at building teams from the ground up and brings a clear, practical approach to helping founders make the right hires as they grow.”
“Dan adds meaningful depth to the sports search capabilities Glenn and the team have already built,” said Mr. Hirsch. “His track record across professional sports, racing, and collegiate athletics complements the strength of DHR’s sports practice, and having him at Jobplex means we can support an even broader range of client needs together.”
Mr. Rossetti brings more than 20 years of executive search experience across professional sports, racing, and collegiate athletics. Throughout his career, he’s advised organizations including Chip Ganassi Racing, Cleveland Browns, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, NASCAR, Nashville Predators, Nashville SC.
Mr. Rossetti founded Ascension Sports Partners in 2008, following a senior role at a sports-focused executive search firm, and has led the firm through two ownership transitions since, continuing to build its client relationships until Jobplex’s acquisition.
“I’m excited to join Jobplex and work alongside Glenn and the sports practice team,” Mr. Rossetti said. “Sports has become an increasingly complex business, and the talent demands have grown along with it. I’m looking forward to bringing what we’ve built at Ascension into that work together, and helping clients address those demands. Joining the DHR platform also gives me a broader set of tools to bring to clients, leadership consulting among them, as their needs go beyond a single search.”
Related: The M&A Predictions That Shaped 2026
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
