Witt/Kieffer Continues Expansion
May 23, 2018 – Executive recruitment firm Witt/Kieffer has strengthened its search staff with the addition of Jennifer Chase as managing director of its life sciences practice. Based in Boston, she will support the recruitment of positions across the life sciences spectrum, with a particular emphasis on emerging biopharmaceutical and medical device and diagnostics firms, as well as established international life science companies.
Ms. Chase has more than 20 years of international executive search experience. Her expertise ranges from recruiting CEOs, COOs and vice presidents in functional areas including commercial & business development, quality & regulatory affairs, clinical development and market access. She offers a holistic approach to recruitment and client service, said Witt/Kieffer, with a clear understanding that a client’s business objectives, strategy, and corporate culture are critical to a successful executive search.
Previously, Ms. Chase was partner with life sciences-focused executive search firm RobinsonButler. Prior to that, she was a partner with Heidrick & Struggles. Earlier in her search career, she was located in Paris while she was serving as managing director, international for Euromedica, an executive search consultancy also serving life sciences companies.
“Jennifer is a superb addition to our practice and to Witt/Kieffer,” said Morten Nielsen, global managing partner for the firm’s life sciences practice. “She understands the executive talent landscape in the life sciences across the globe and has a unique ability to partner to identify executives who align with clients’ strategic needs and growth potential.”
Ms. Chase said she sees great potential in her new role. “As the global market for life sciences becomes increasingly more competitive and complex, exceptional leadership is critical,” she said. “I look forward to the opportunity with Witt/Kieffer to advise and support clients in finding executives that elevate their goals and ensure their success.”
Witt/Kieffer has been an advisor to hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, physician groups and other healthcare enterprises for more than 45 years. With over 100 expert search professionals nationwide, its consultants recruit CEOs, CFOs, COOs, physician executives and many other leaders.
Recruiting CEO Discusses Tenure … and Industry Challenges Ahead
Chuck Wardell took us inside his tenure at Witt/Kieffer – one of the nation’s leading search specialists. In this wide ranging interview, he looked back and ahead at the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for executive recruiters. Here it is, in case you missed it. If you did read it, it’s worth a second look.
Expansion
In April, Witt/Kieffer acquired its joint venture Witt/Kieffer Ccentric Limited to create Witt/Kieffer International Limited. Serving clients in healthcare, education and the life sciences with their executive recruiting needs, Witt/Kieffer International will be headquartered in London and will have the ability to conduct searches worldwide. The search firm’s president and CEO Andrew P. Chastain will oversee business operations with full support from the Witt/Kieffer executive team and board as well as Witt/Kieffer International general managers Natalie Derry, based in the U.K., and Petra Klerken, based in Hong Kong.
“This move is about better serving global markets in our client industries,” said Mr. Chastain. “It allows us to realize goals that we have had since forming the joint venture and officially expanding our business internationally: to be a truly global executive search firm and to better support our clients in healthcare, education, academic medicine and the life sciences, wherever their executive talent needs may exist.”
Witt/Kieffer recently appointed HR veteran Tiffany Morris as its chief human resources officer. As a member of the senior leadership team, Ms. Morris is charged with supporting the overall achievement of the firm’s goals and managing the life cycle of the employee experience. She was previously a strategic consultant at High Ground, a technology service provider. In this role, she focused on creating value enhancing programs across engagement, talent management, learning and people analytics.
Witt/Kieffer started the year by launching an emerging physician leaders search practice, which expands the reach and capabilities of the firm’s physician integration & leadership business. Consultant Carl Fitch is leading the practice, which will help clients in healthcare and academic medicine identify potential physician administrators and executives at all levels of their organizations.
Witt/Kieffer also added Bonnie Panlasigui, former chief administrative officer with Alameda Hospital in California, as a consultant in the firm’s healthcare practice. Based in Emeryville, CA, Ms. Panlasigui has vast experience as a senior executive spanning broad operations with for-profit and not-for-profit health systems. In her role with Witt/Kieffer, she specializes in C-suite and other high-level executive search assignments.
Lastly, the firm named Paul Bohne and Donna Padilla as co-leads of the firm’s healthcare practice. They succeeded Andrew P. Chastain, who was promoted to CEO in March. Mr. Bohne, currently senior partner and vice chair of Witt/Kieffer’s healthcare practice, has vast expertise in working with health systems and other organizations on senior-level search assignments and leadership-related consultations. He has helped lead more than 100 president/CEO searches on behalf of health systems and health-related organizations, among his more than 500 search assignments overall. Ms. Padilla, also currently serves as senior partner and vice chair of the healthcare practice, works with healthcare boards and senior leadership teams within a variety of healthcare organizations. She has achieved market prominence serving faith-based providers and complex health systems. She has conducted 500 healthcare executive search assignments for CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CNOs and other senior leaders.
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
