John McLean

Managing Director

John McLean

John McLean, Managing Director, is internationally recognized for his work identifying and assessing senior executives on behalf of life sciences, healthcare, technology, and financial services companies. With more than 25 years of life science and healthcare consulting experience, John’s search expertise includes an in-depth understanding of company culture, best practices, executive compensation and corporate governance. He has recruited Presidents, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CTO’s, Board Directors and other Senior executive roles for Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders. John also works closely with start-ups and many private equity firms on assignments for their portfolio companies.

Before being acquired by ZRG Partners, John formed McLean Consulting, a highly client centric, results-driven boutique executive search firm headquartered in Chicago. Prior to forming his own firm, John was Managing Partner for Witt/Kieffer and expanded their executive search offerings by leading the Life Science practice. During his nine years at DHR International, John co-founded the company’s Life Science executive search practice and led the first searches with private equity firms. John also served as a consultant at Hewitt Associates advising clients on how to align company strategy to executive compensation, sales management and rewards programs.

Additionally, he has more than 14 years in senior sales and marketing experience with Johnson & Johnson, American Hospital Supply Corporation (AHSC), and Orthodontic Research and Equipment Corporation. John served on the Board of AESC for the Americas (Association of Executive Search Consultants), is a Founders Council Member of the Field Museum, is an ombudsman for the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Alumni Association and was co-fundraising chairman for the Grammy Foundation in Chicago supporting music education in schools. John speaks regularly on talent assessment issues and executive compensation, and has authored many articles and studies that have appeared in publications such as Chief Executive Magazine, Nature Biotechnology Magazine, and MDDI Medical.