Stevenson Search Partners Fills Senior Role for Purespring Therapeutics
November 3, 2025 – Fort Lee, NJ-based Stevenson Search Partners, a global life science executive search firm and a Hunt Scanlon Top 50 ranked search firm, has helped to recruit Nicholas Deakin as vice president, head of business development & strategy at Purespring Therapeutics in London. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nicholas Deakin, who joins Purespring as VP, head of business development and strategy,” the company said in a LinkedIn post. “With over a decade of biopharma and healthcare expertise, Nick has an extensive background in defining and executing on opportunities, bringing a comprehensive skill set at the intersection of science and business.”
Dr. Deakin brings over a decade of biopharma and healthcare expertise and a comprehensive skillset at the intersection of science and business. At Purespring, he will be a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for defining and executing the company’s growth strategy.
Most recently, Dr. Deakin served as an executive director in the healthcare investment banking team at Morgan Stanley, where he supported companies in creating their equity story, raising public and private capital, and executing on M&A and licensing activities. His in-depth knowledge of the biopharma landscape includes a particular focus on companies in the cardio-metabolic, rare disease, and immunology spaces.
Beyond his business development expertise, Dr. Deakin worked as a medical doctor in London and brings strategy experience from McKinsey & Company, where he served as a medical intern and external consultant. He also taught strategy at London Business School and was a visiting fellow in value-based care at Harvard University.
Purespring Therapeutics is a precision nephrology biotech company that is pioneering gene therapies specifically designed to treat glomerular kidney diseases. The company’s proprietary platform focuses on delivering AAV-based gene therapies directly to the podocyte—a key cell type in the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli)—in order to tackle both rare monogenic and more common non-genetic renal diseases.
With more than 40 years of experience, Stevenson Search Partners serves the global biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology, health technology, and CRO/CDMO sectors, with offices in the U.S. and the U.K. Founded in 1979, Stevenson’s expertise includes C-suite, research, clinical, development, commercial manufacturing, and corporate functions, and working with companies ranging from start-ups and academic spinouts to large pharma clients. Stevenson provides a collaborative, long-term approach to its clients with a global network and strategic talent mapping and pipelining, and competitive analysis services.
The search firm boasts an entrepreneurial and diversity-driven culture, with expansive industry expertise and broad international reach. In 2020, Stevenson expanded its operations with the opening of an office in the U.K., which also serves the E.U. and other regions, as part of its strategic growth in the global life science and healthcare area.
Related: Stevenson Search Partners Receives Long-Term Investment from SixSibs Capital
Larry Dolinko is CEO of Stevenson Search Partners. He is a seasoned leader with a track record of scaling teams and integrating services, and will spearhead the strategic direction of the firm. His vision focuses on doubling the size of Stevenson’s executive retained search business while seamlessly growing its new on-demand talent solutions.
Apellis Pharmaceuticals Search
Stevenson Search Partners also recently assisted in the recruitment of Leslie Meltzer as chief research and development officer at Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Meltzer joins Apellis as a seasoned biopharma executive with demonstrated success in advancing innovative therapies from early discovery stages through regulatory milestone achievements and market introduction. Her extensive background encompasses deep knowledge in rare disease therapeutics and cell and gene therapy development, having contributed to the successful market launches of seven therapeutic products throughout her career.
Powering Growth Through Precision Dealmaking
In an era defined by rapid consolidation and strategic reinvention, precision dealmaking has emerged as the driving force behind growth in the executive search industry. As firms navigate shifting market dynamics, many are turning to mergers, acquisitions, and private equity partnerships to expand capabilities, unlock liquidity, and gain competitive advantage. The most forward-thinking leaders are recognizing that sustainable success depends not only on securing capital but on forging relationships that align vision with value creation — partnerships that balance strategic intent with disciplined execution to accelerate growth and build lasting enterprise value.
On November 13, 2025, Hunt Scanlon Ventures is convening top executive search firm leaders, private equity investors, and M&A advisors at The Harvard Club of New York to explore the latest trends shaping dealmaking in the industry. As M&A activity continues to evolve, executive search firms are leveraging acquisitions, capital raises, and private equity partnerships to drive growth and stay competitive in a rapidly shifting market.
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In her most recent position as chief medical officer at Orchard Therapeutics, Dr. Meltzer provided strategic leadership across development, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, diagnostics, and patient advocacy functions, playing a pivotal role in obtaining regulatory approvals on a global scale.
Headquartered in Waltham, MA, Apellis Pharmaceuticals is a publicly traded biopharma company that focuses on developing and commercializing treatments targeting the body’s complement system, specifically C3-driven disease pathways. In 2024, the company reported $781.4 million in total revenue—nearly doubling year over year.
Related: The New Race for Talent in Life Sciences and Healthcare
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
