Odgers Berndtson Launches Health and Wellness Recruiting Practice
April 22, 2021 – Odgers Berndtson has launched a new health and wellness recruiting practice led by partner Andrew Dmytryk and designed to provide senior-level talent, leadership and recruitment project solutions for growing Canadian companies. Specifically catering to the cannabis, pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech industries, the new practice will work with Canadian health and wellness organizations. “The industry has really grown up and is attracting top executives from consumer packaged goods, manufacturing and pharma companies,” said Mr. Dmytryk. Professional management is key, as is finding specific skills sets such as finance, regulatory, quality and control, operational systems, and mergers and acquisitions. I look forward to continuing to support our health and wellness clients with best-in-class talent and leadership solutions.”
Estimated to be a $7.3 billion industry by 2025, the cannabis industry has grown in complexity over the last few years as the financial reporting requirements, regulatory compliance matters and the day-to-day management have become more challenging. Biotech and medtech are not far behind – both estimated at about $6 billion in annual revenue in Canada.
Mr. Dmytryk brings 12 years of providing innovative talent solutions to organizations with accelerated timelines. He has played a leading role in the growth of the Odgers Interim business, including the development of innovative new services. Prior to his career in executive search, Mr. Dmytryk spent seven years with a leading Canadian IT consulting organization, where he was responsible for relationship development, contract management and recruitment activities for all levels of government and various private sector clients.
“Andrew has been integral in building our interim business in Canada and he has worked across many industries and functions to help our clients solve some of their biggest challenges,” said Carl Lovas, chairman and CEO of Odgers Berndtson in Canada. “He brings a deep understanding of the specific challenges facing high-growth organizations and knows how to help them scale quickly and successfully. This new practice will build on the great work he has already been doing in the health and wellness sector.”
Odgers Berndtson delivers executive search, leadership assessment and development strategies to organizations globally. The firm’s 250-plus partners cover more than 50 sectors and operate out of 59 offices in 29 countries. The U.S. wing of the firm launched in 2011 and is one of the fastest growing search firms in the Americas. Odgers Berndtson currently has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Expansion Wave
Odgers Berndtson has experienced a wave of new growth. The firm recently appointed Brad Beveridge as president of its Canadian business, responsible for leading the firm’s continued expansion and the growth of its executive search, executive interim and leadership advisory services. “Brad’s extensive experience as a search professional and business leader will be key to helping us continue to anticipate and support our client’s emerging leadership and talent needs,” said Mr. Lovas. “He brings a deep understanding of all aspects of our business and a strong track record of developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing organizations across the human capital spectrum. This is a very important step in our firm’s evolution.”
The firm also recently expanded with the addition of Tonya Muse as partner in the U.S. corporate and government affairs practice based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. “We are delighted to welcome Tonya Muse to the firm,” said Steve Potter, CEO of U.S. Odgers Berndtson. “As a seasoned corporate and government affairs executive, Tonya brings a deep background in industry and trade association leadership initiatives as well as non-profit experience to Odgers Berndtson. Tonya will work closely with Conrad Woody to continue to grow our search work in this area, helping advise clients on government affairs, corporate communications and public affairs, and trade association CEO and leadership roles.”
Odgers Berndtson Names Head of U.S. Professional Services and Human Capital Practices
Odgers Berndtson has appointed Sayed Sadjady as partner and head of its U.S. professional services and human capital practices. Mr. Sadjady most recently served as a senior partner with Ernst & Young leading the firm’s people advisory services practice in the technology, media and entertainment, and telecom industry.
The firm also hired Darin DeWitt as partner and head of the firm’s U.S. healthcare services practice. He will be based out of the Los Angeles office. Mr. DeWitt has more than 20 years of experience in executive search, most recently as a leader of the life sciences and healthcare practice and as a member of the financial services practice at Caldwell Partners where he focused on building senior management teams for leading and emerging companies and for private equity and venture capital groups.
In addition, Odgers Berndtson opened a new office Bogotá, Colombia to help meet a growing demand from organizations in the Andean region for executive search expertise. In conjunction, Odgers Berndtson will also launch its interim executive arm, Odgers Interim, in Colombia. Odgers Berndtson Colombia will be led by managing partner Roberto Hall, a veteran of the Colombian executive search industry. “The Colombian launch will enable us to draw upon Odgers Berndtson’s global network and combine it with our experience of local markets across all the major cities in Colombia,” said Mr. Hall. “With Odgers Interim we will also have a critical differentiator to most of our competitors, providing us with the ability to meet the full spectrum of client talent demands, whether those are permanent or interim leadership.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
