GenSearch Opens Swiss Office
October 25, 2017 – Paris-based recruitment firm GenSearch has opened a new office in Basel, Switzerland and named Heiko Bruhn as managing director. He brings over two decades of experience in the life science industry with a strong focus on the biotech and pharma industries.
“Heiko’s deep knowledge and understanding of the European Life Science industry, as well has his expertise in executive search, will greatly benefit our firm and client base,” said Sébastien Stoitzner, CEO of GenSearch. “With his energy and team spirit, he will fit right in with the team.”
Previously, Mr. Bruhn was managing director for the German-based life science boutique firm Mediatum. In addition to establishing the firm’s Swiss branch, he advised life science companies on the appointment of senior executives in Europe.
Mr. Bruhn is an attorney and a graduate of the University of Freiburg/ Breisgau. He joined global pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company Roche in Germany as a human resources manager in 1992. Two years later, he moved to Basel to take on a wide range of roles within the group’s international HR department. He has many years of experience supporting international fields, such as commercial, clinical development and medical affairs. Mr. Bruhn also has strong contacts within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, the search firm said.
“I am extremely pleased to be joining GenSearch, such a young, energetic and dynamic executive search company,” said Mr. Bruhn. I am looking forward to contributing to their accomplishments with my previous experience in successful business development especially in Switzerland, across Europe and the U.S.”
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Life sciences is strongly represented in Switzerland. The region is one of the most important life-sciences centers in Europe with many international companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology sectors having settled there.
GenSearch is a specialist executive search firm exclusively focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries. It serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic and medical device companies. Mr. Stoitzner founded the firm in 2010 after seven years serving as Europe life sciences team leader at FutureStep.
Persistent Talent Shortages
According to Deloitte’s global sector outlook report on life sciences, persistent talent shortages and the need to develop and retain employees with critical business and technology skill sets will continue to challenge global life sciences companies as they try to navigate a new world of work — one that requires a dramatic change in strategies for leadership, talent, and human resources.
“Our sector has changed beyond anyone’s expectations over the last two decades,” said Bianca Coulter, CEO of life science focused executive search Coulter Partners. “We need to understand the appetites and needs of the major multinationals. This requires reach into all corners of the market. While our office network is growing, the key has been to have multilingual, multi-market experienced and connected researchers and consultants. Our team speaks many languages and has worked in all major bio-pharma markets and is organized as one P&L, to ensure collaborative information and experience sharing.”
The sector has recently enjoyed a healthy stream of consistent investment for the development of new therapies for unmet medical needs. “This spans the entire gamut of existing therapeutic areas from CNS, respiratory, immunology and inflammation to oncology, hematology, ophthalmology and rare diseases,” said Helga Long, a life sciences search specialist who recently joined ZRG Partners. She noted there is a need and reliance on the biotech sector for innovation and early science, and this has led to a surge of investment in biotech startups. “All of these segments now require world class leadership,” said Ms. Long.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
