ZRG Partners Acquires HM Long Global Partners
July 20, 2017 – ZRG Partners, the fastest growing search firm in the U.S., has continued its aggressive expansion with the acquisition of life sciences specialist HM Long Global Partners.
As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Helga Long, formerly the chair and CEO of HM Long/ RSVP Group, is joining ZRG Partners. Ms. Long is considered one of the world’s top executive search professionals in life sciences. She has helped companies around the world with senior-level talent acquisition for more than 30 years. She previously spent 10 years with CTPartners as a vice chairman of the firm’s life sciences practice.
Ms. Long will remain as CEO of HM Long Global, which will operate as a division of ZRG Partners. After the integration of assets, she will assume the role of chief client officer in ZRG’s global life sciences practice working with the ZRG team in supporting clients around the world.
Joining Ms. Long will be several key leaders and support team members who have been working together for over a decade, including Charles Rohaut, managing director in France. Derick Haire and Lydia Coleman in Virginia will join as senior client partners in Texas and Virginia respectively.
Serving Life Sciences Clients
“Our current Life Sciences team, led by Adam El Din, as global practice head and David Fortier, North American Leader, have delivered amazing results the past few years,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG Partners. “The addition of Helga Long and the team creates the most powerful super-boutique solution for life sciences clients globally. We could not be more excited about the addition of the entire team that has worked together in the market for years.”
Ms. Long said she was excited to join a platform where the focus is on the client. “ZRG’s sophisticated, client-centric data and analytics approach in the search process will only enhance the level of work our team has already been doing in the market and create even stronger client partnerships,” she said. “The alliance with ZRG creates a true ‘one plus one equals three’ combination.”
“ZRG Partners represent the best possible search solution for start-ups, small, mid-sized and large companies with the powerful data and analytics tools created by this company along with its excellent leadership and highly experience professionals. The company is truly global so we can now service our large pharma and device/diagnostics clients with greater speed and efficiency. But, best of all, the ZRG culture is one of true ‘team spirit’ that permeates the entire enterprise created and reinforced by Mr. Hartmann.”
Within life sciences, the primary demand that Ms. Long sees centers around advanced technology and big data applications to cure illnesses in a broad range of therapeutics areas. “While large and small molecules are essential, advanced diagnostics and gene editing will be playing a huge role in finding cures for illnesses,” she said. “Functions most in demand in our areas of focus are medical affairs and regulatory affairs.”
Continued Expansion
In June, ZRG Partners opened an office in Hong Kong, adding David Greenfield as head of the global insurance practice. The firm, which is continuing its recent expansion, also named Kevin Jones as leader of its global commercial real estate search platform as well as the Pittsburgh regional office.
In May, ZRG opened an office in London, continuing on its massive expansion trajectory. By the end of the year, the firm expects to have a team of five managing directors in key market verticals in London to further support its expansion plans. ZRG’s foray into the U.K. supports an expansion strategy that started several years ago but has more recently gained traction.
In March, the firm named Mark Cusick to head a new division called Orca Talent. As president, he leads this sales optimization business, which is addressing the global challenges of sales force hiring and productivity. He has over 25 years of sector experience working with thousands of leading business executives with over 150 global companies.
In February, ZRG named Allen Brady and Peter Gremillion as managing directors to its industrial practice group as well as Jill Schofield as managing director and head of its global mining practice. Mr. Brady gained executive search and talent acquisition functional experience at Korn Ferry, Bombardier Learjet, Waggener Edstrom, and Sierra Nevada Corporation.
In January, the firm added David Sheahan as a managing director in its Dallas office. He focuses on supporting clients in the life sciences, technology and energy sectors, where he has extensive experience. Mr. Sheahan has had a long career in human resource services, having served with Korn Ferry since 2008.
ZRG also named Sharon Stein as a managing director in its financial services, private equity and consumer recruiting practices. She works from the firm’s New York office. Ms. Stein has served clients across a broad range of sectors, including private equity, financial services, technology, consumer packaged goods, hospitality and retail.
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
