ZRG Partners Acquires Life Sciences Boutique; Names Aerospace & Defense Leader
September 16, 2016 – Executive search firm ZRG Partners has added John McLean as a managing director in its global life sciences search practice with the acquisition of certain assets of Illinois-based consulting practice McLean Consulting. Mr. McLean will work out of ZRG’s Chicago office after the transaction formally closes this month.
“John adds great depth to our life sciences team,” said Larry Hartmann, chief executive officer of ZRG. “We see an easy and successful integration with the impressive client base in place with McLean Consulting. We are continuing to see a positive trend where solid boutique firms, like McLean Consulting, are recognizing the advantages of aligning with ZRG Partners for our global coverage and unique client deliverables.”
Mr. McLean, who has 14 years of executive search experience, served several recruiting firms, including Witt/Kieffer, DHR International and Johnson & Johnson before founding his own practice.
“Delivering the most comprehensive service in executive search is paramount,” said Mr. McLean. “By joining ZRG, we now have full global coverage. ZRG has an expert, worldwide team to execute for multinationals around the world.”
Leading an Aerospace & Defense Vertical
ZRG has also named Samantha Foster as a managing director and member of the firm’s global industrial practice. She will lead the firm’s efforts in the aerospace & defense vertical, where she has spent more than 12 years supporting clients globally.
“Since 2015, we have added significantly to our industrial team with experienced search professionals across the U.S., Asia and Europe,” said Mr. Hartmann. “Samantha will have the ability to bring in functional specialists to support her clients and access to a more geographically diverse team as well. The timing could not be better as our global industrial practice has significantly increased over the past two years in depth and scope.”
Having a strong global team with deep sector experience to collaborate with will insure great coverage for critical mandates, said Ms. Foster. “As I look at what my aviation and defense clients have been seeking, ZRG is answering the needs with flexibility in how to support client needs with an amazing overlay of data and analytics in the search process.”
There have been a number of other recent additions to ZRG’s recruiter base:
- The firm added Paul Stefunek to its roster as a managing director. He supports the firm’s technology practice and serve as a member of the firm’s industrial and private equity team. Previously, he was a partner with DHR International and before that was chairman and managing partner of paul-lawrence associates;
- ZRG also named Alexander Spielberg as a managing director and member of its global industrial and life sciences practice in its Frankfurt, Germany office. Mr. Spielberg previously spent six years with Korn Ferry in its global industrial search practice and most recently was a partner at European boutique search firm Exgeniam Executive Search Personalberatung KG supporting clients in the life sciences and industrial sectors;
- Earlier this year, ZRG established its footprint in Brazil with the addition of Denys Monteiro as chief executive officer. He was most recently CEO of Fesa, Brazil’s largest independent executive search firm where he worked for 18 years. Joining Mr. Monteiro from Fesa are: Aldo Bergamasco, head of the firm’s consumer goods practice; Rodrigo Byrro, a head of the practice of TMT (technology, media and telecommunications); Geraldo Teixeira, head of the firm’s insurance practice and a member of ZRG’s financial services and industrial practices; Leonardo Ribeiro, head of the firm’s education and healthcare practices and a member of the firm’s life sciences, consumer and TMT practices; and Aline Lex, who will serve as head of financial services and private equity in São Paulo.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media