True Launches Hybrid Talent Solution SearchEssentials
March 12, 2025 – Global talent provider True has launched SearchEssentials, a versatile technology and services hiring solution designed for flexible customization. Focusing on roles that may not require a fully retained executive search, SearchEssentials offers an adaptable, tech-enabled, partially retained search model tailored for team expansions, key individual contributor positions, and leadership roles in smaller or early-stage companies. “SearchEssentials is differentiated by its adaptability that offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness for clients, and represents a significant advancement in how we deliver exceptional talent solutions, ” said Joe Riggione, president of True Technologies, founder and co-CEO of True. “Led by Josh Kohler, this innovative offering leverages our data-driven platform to empower organizations of all sizes to access top talent and achieve their strategic goals.”
Mr. Kohler previously spent three years at True Search. A partner in the product, data & technology practice, he specialized in VPX and CXO placements for VC and PE-backed tech startups. He then served in various leadership roles at Quantum and DES Recruitment, Inc. Recently, as technical talent leader at Aurora Innovation, Mr. Kohler played a pivotal role in scaling the company from 600 to over 1,800 employees, making a significant impact on its path toward a public filing.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the True Platform to lead this exceptional team and collaborate with clients to address their talent challenges with a new, distinctive approach,” said Mr. Kohler. “I look forward to leveraging my experience within executive search to assist clients through SearchEssentials.”
Working in both the private and public sectors, True Search has offices throughout the U.S. as well as the EMEA and APAC regions. Since the late 1990s, the firm’s founders have refined their search process with a blend of data-centric insights, relationship-building, and experience to produce a methodology that consistently improves hiring decisions and accelerates growth. The firm’s clients include Jet, Work Front, and Summit Partners. True Search is a subsidiary of True Platform, a global portfolio of human capital services and products for high-growth tech and tech-enabled organizations. True recently placed No. 6 on the Hunt Scanlon Media “Top 50 Recruiters” ranking.
New Dedicated MedSci Functional Team
True also recently launched a dedicated MedSci functional team within its healthcare & life sciences practice. The firm explained that the MedSci team is designed to meet the growing demand for highly scientific, technical, R&D, and medical leadership across industries transforming healthcare and science. “The lines between discovery, treatment, prevention, and population health are becoming increasingly interconnected,” said Jim O’Sullivan, managing director, global co-lead of True’s healthcare & life sciences practices. “MedSci was created to address the growing need for strategic medical and technical leaders who can navigate this multi-layered landscape. By aligning the right talent with the right opportunities, MedSci aims to accelerate breakthroughs that improve lives and shape the future of healthcare”
Related: True Acquires Jopwell
“The convergence of breakthroughs in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare is ushering in a transformative era in medicine,” said Sophia Mowla, managing director, global co-lead of True’s healthcare and life sciences practices. “Scientific innovation is driving the development of precision treatments, novel diagnostics, and preventative solutions that have the potential to profoundly impact patients’ lives. MedSci was created to address the urgent need for leaders who can navigate this complex landscape, bridging cutting-edge R&D with real-world patient outcomes.”
True Appoints Head of Talent Advisory in North America
True has named Tom Granado as the new head of talent advisory in North America. With his extensive leadership advisory background, he will collaborate with Debu Mishra, global head of talent advisory, to enhance the practice’s leadership impact. “Tom’s experience helping companies strategically define what clear leadership, successful talent management, and cultural alignment looks like will be indispensable for our clients and candidates,” said Joe Riggione, co-CEO of True Platform. “After speaking to a few of Tom’s VC clients, we knew he’d built a business that values client relationships the way True does, and we’re excited for him to continue that work here.”
True’s MedSci consultants identify and place senior executives driving advancements in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, digital health, and beyond. “While True has been placing R&D and medical talent for years, formalizing this sub-function will bridge the gap between scientific discovery and patient impact, addressing the evolving needs of organizations in an era defined by breakthroughs in precision medicine, genomics, and population health,” the firm said.
Mr. O’Sullivan joined True after a 15 year tenure at Ross & Company. Over his career, he has completed more than 500 projects, ranging from CEO, president, COO, board member, CRO, CFO, and other top management searches to capital sourcing and company formation. Mr. O’Sullivan specializes in health information, health data analytics, medtech, pharma IT/services, healthcare services, managed care, tech-enabled services and enterprise software/SaaS/cloud computing businesses.
Ms. Mowla is the co-founder of True’s global life sciences practice and now leads True’s healthcare and life sciences practices in EMEA & APAC specializing in biotech & pharma, life science tools / techbio, diagnostics and medtech. She was the chief growth officer / member of the executive team of an ARCH backed San Diego / Oxford biotech, leading HR, talent and investor relations where she built out the company’s U.S. presence, organizational structure, trans-Atlantic leadership and board.
Related: True Appoints Regional Lead for Middle East and North Africa
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
