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We are a retained executive search firm dedicated to life sciences, healthcare and medical technologies. Our focus is on the recruitment of C-level executives, Board of Director members and the full spectrum of functional executives including commercial, clinical, medical, operations, finance, quality and regulatory, human resources, legal, and research & development. We use the extensive experience and knowledge of our consultants to design a smooth and successful process from initial contact to position fulfillment and onboarding for each of our clients. We are not simply recruitment vendors, we only work with our clients on a consultative, high touch, trusted advisor basis. We consider each assignment a partnership because we want each placement to be successful for both you and your new hire.
Your consultant will meet with you for a detailed discussion of the situation with stakeholders, critical issues for new executives, definitions of success, development of a role profile, and search strategy. Participation of the hiring executive in this process is critical and mandatory, both for their insights into the role and situation but also for our consultant to best represent the client and the opportunity to prospective candidates.
Your consultant will meet with you for a detailed discussion of the situation with stakeholders, critical issues for new executives, definitions of success, development of a role profile, and search strategy. Participation of the hiring executive in this process is critical and mandatory, both for their insights into the role and situation but also for our consultant to best represent the client and the opportunity to prospective candidates.
Your consultant will identify potential candidates from our extensive personal networks, proprietary database, and a systematic search of relevant industry talent pools. Preliminary screenings will then be conducted for best fit and interest.
Formal, in-depth face-to-face or video interviews will be conducted, and informal referencing will begin. A detailed profile of all candidates will be presented for consideration to your team.
Formal, in-depth face-to-face or video interviews will be conducted, and informal referencing will begin. A detailed profile of all candidates will be presented for consideration to your team.
We will advise you in preparing and negotiating an offer for your chosen executive. Formal 360-degree references are also conducted. Our team will then maintain close contact with the new hire during their notice period and through their start date to facilitate a seamless transition.
We will formally follow up with your hiring executive and new hire to confirm that both parties’ expectations are being met during the first year of employment. At a minimum, this includes conversations with the hiring executive, the placed executive, and Human Resources. If helpful, discussions with additional personnel in the organization can be undertaken. We provide assistance with resolution of any identified issues to ensure successful placement.
We will formally follow up with your hiring executive and new hire to confirm that both parties’ expectations are being met during the first year of employment. At a minimum, this includes conversations with the hiring executive, the placed executive, and Human Resources. If helpful, discussions with additional personnel in the organization can be undertaken. We provide assistance with resolution of any identified issues to ensure successful placement.
Strawn Arnold is a long-established, well-known Life Sciences retained executive search firm. We have been consistently named a Top Retained Executive Search Firm by Executive Recruiter News, and though we pride ourselves on our services and reputation, the real honor goes to our twelve consultants, all of whom are former senior executives in life sciences and healthcare companies. Our consultants know the industry and what it takes to find a good fit.
With over 70 years of collective industry experience, our consultants have a long track record of placing highly-qualified talent in key executive positions. We never ‘farm out’ our essential recruiting duties. Our experienced consultants make every call and meet with every candidate personally. This enables us to optimally sell our client and the role in the market, it also gives us deep insight into the abilities, motivation, and potential of prospective candidates.
Resumes or information sent to SAA may be preserved in its secure Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Jeff Ashpitz joined Strawn Arnold & Associates in 1998 following a 27-year career in the Life Sciences industry in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Since joining the firm, he has established a successful biotechnology and pharmaceutical executive search practice.
He is focused on C-level and board of director positions as well as senior-level R&D (discovery, preclinical, translational, clinical development, regulatory and medical affairs), Commercial (sales, marketing, business development, market access and managed care), Manufacturing, Quality, HR, Finance and Legal assignments. Jeff has established himself as one of the premier Life Sciences executive search professionals in the industry.
Prior to entering the executive search profession, Jeff worked with Eli Lilly (sales and marketing management), American Cyanamid (Managing Director, Cyanamid Philippines; Managing Director, Cyanamid UK; Vice President, Lederle International; President, Davis & Geck) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (President, Zimmer Europe).
Jeff received his BS from McGill University in Montreal and his MBA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Jenny Crutchlow joined Strawn Arnold & Associates, Ltd. in 2018 as Director of Recruiting. Jenny uses her extensive experience at some of the top-retained search firms in the country to partner with the senior leadership at Strawn Arnold to design search strategies and to source, recruit, screen, and develop candidates for our clients.
Her career in executive search began at Diversified Search, one of the top 5 retained executive search firms in the country, in their Technology/CIO, Industrial/Manufacturing, and Diversity practices. She then spent three years honing her skills at Solomon Page, the 6th largest retained executive search firm focused on Health Care, placing Director, VP, and C-level executives at some of the top healthcare companies in the United States.
Prior to entering the world of search, Jenny worked for several major financial firms and hedge funds in New York City, following a national performing career as a singer and actress. Jenny earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, and her Bachelor of Arts in Plan II from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was invited to join Phi Beta Kappa.
Barry Duke joined Strawn Arnold in August of 2017 after a 35-year career of progressive responsibility as a commercially-focused executive in Pharma and Biopharma. The focus of Barry’s executive search practice has been primarily on senior-level roles (C-suite, VP-level, and Sr. Director) across a breadth of functional positions in Biopharma.
A sampling of recent searches includes Chief Medical Officer, SVP Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, US President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Sr. Director Regulatory Affairs, and several senior-level Commercial roles including SVP Sales, VP Sales/Marketing, and VP Market Access.
Barry has strong connections to Boston, and the east coast, having worked there for over 12 years with Genzyme/Sanofi as a VP Sales/Marketing, and as the first Chief Commercial Officer at Collegium Pharmaceutical in the Boston area. In addition to Genzyme/Sanofi and Collegium, Barry worked early in his career at The Upjohn Company, Centocor, The Liposome Company, Elan, and Enzon.
Barry is a proud “Wahoo” graduate from the University of Virginia after growing up in the Nashville, TN area. Barry currently resides in Charlotte, NC and continues to suffer most Sundays in the Fall cheering for his Carolina Panthers.
Mark Durham, based in Morristown, NJ, has extensive experience in leadership best practices, organizational effectiveness, and board governance. He is active in Strawn Arnold’s Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences practices. He offers clients a broad industry perspective as well as a proven track record of recruiting top talent.
Mark has an extensive network in the pharmaceutical industry and is comfortable working on assignments that cover a wide range of functional expertise. His operational experience, coupled with his human resource background, is always highly valued by his clients.
Prior to Joining Strawn Arnold, Mark held executive roles in human resources and talent acquisition at Valeant, Biovail, and Pharmacia. Mark began his career in sales operations and manufacturing at the Upjohn Company of Canada.
Mark has a BA in Political Science and Economics from Carleton University and an MA in Psychology from Farleigh Dickinson University. He often speaks on issues surrounding talent and organizational effectiveness.
Oliver Esman joined Strawn Arnold & Associates, Ltd. in 2006, after a 30-year career in corporate human resources. Since joining the firm, he has established a broad search practice that focuses on clients in the generics, specialty pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical services industries.
Oliver’s search practice focuses on the recruitment of high-impact, seasoned executives across all functions, including C-suite leadership roles, all commercial roles including sales and marketing and business development, technical operations including quality, research and development, and regulatory affairs. He has built entire management teams for clients in the past.
With clients ranging from private equity to Fortune 500 companies, medium and small public and private companies, Oliver has access to a robust network of industry leaders in all critical leadership functions. By partnering with clients in a focused, diligent, and hands-on manner, Oliver delivers high-quality candidates who can be successful in the client’s unique cultural setting.
Prior to his last role as Vice President of Human Resources for the Sandoz Division of Novartis, he served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Schein Pharmaceutical. Oliver received his B.S. in Labor Relations from Cornell University. He is on the Corporate Advisory Board for Nourish of NJ, a nonprofit focused on alleviating hunger and providing social services in NJ.
John Groover joined Strawn Arnold in 2003 to start what is now one of the larger, most respected retained search practices in the medical device sector. His initial 20 years in the industry started in 1982 when John was a member of the first sales training class for Ethicon Endo-Surgery. He subsequently led all sales and marketing for Baxter Edwards Cardiovascular, managed a major portion of the U.S. for GE MedSystems, and served as President of Sulzer Carbomedics.
Those J&J, GE, and Baxter networks served as a catalyst in building what may be the most respected retained search practice in the medical device sector. Over the past 20 years, John’s placed hundreds of C-level executives with smaller, emerging companies as well as mid-caps and large-caps. He’s placed many of the top executives at Abbott and Globus Medical, including some of the highest-ranking diversity leaders in medtech. His proven ability to effectively recruit game-changing talent for large-cap market leaders while acting as a strategic and intellectual partner when recruiting C-level talent for the “next big thing” in medical devices is rare – if not unparalleled in Medtech retained recruiting.
John is a Virginia Tech alum and a proud, former “Hokie” gridironer. He and his wife Lorrie reside in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
Chris Schneider joined Strawn Arnold in 2007 after a 16-year career as a commercial, operational and executive leader in the medical technology and life science industry. His search practice spans medical technology and devices, technology-enabled solutions, biotech and payer and provider services.
Chris’s focus is on senior executive functional leaders (commercial, operations/manufacturing, clinical/quality/regulatory, scientific, R&D, medical, financial), C-level, and Board of Director assignments. With clients ranging from large, medium, and small publicly-traded organizations, to venture capital and private equity capitalized portfolio companies, his combined 28 years as an operating executive and search professional has built an unparalleled network of industry contacts, providing immense value as an executive recruiter.
Prior to entering executive search, Chris served as President of HealthTronics, a $220 million publicly-traded medical device and healthcare services company. Simultaneously he incubated and was President of ClariPath Laboratories. His earlier career included VP of Sales and Marketing roles at two cardiovascular device companies, which were preceded by 10 years at GE Healthcare in various commercial and General Management roles.
Chris holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Small to medium-sized biopharmaceutical clients have recognized Jim Alexander’s ability to help them attract talent with diverse backgrounds and professionals who have developed a strong combination of leadership skills and a hands-on work ethic.
Jim enjoys mentoring current and future executives and connecting them to career opportunities that enhance their professional growth. From the C-suite through Senior Director levels, Jim has successfully placed numerous industry executives in various functions, including Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Commercial functions. Jim’s searches have spanned many therapeutic areas, including extensive experience in Oncology.
Jim is pleased to meet client needs through his broad network of professionals developed over an active 30-year career in the industry. His industry career with Warner-Lambert and Pfizer included hands-on experience in Business Development and Licensing, Marketing, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. He also served as the General Manager of a successful medical communications agency.
During a 10-year stint in Academia, Dr. Alexander helped train over 400 Rutgers PharmD Post-Docs who now work at all levels of the global pharmaceutical industry. Jim is also known for being the founder of IPhO, the first and only professional organization for industry pharmacists. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nebraska.
Jeff Frazier joined Strawn Arnold in May 2018, after a 30-year career as a senior human resources leader with several global pharmaceutical companies in Europe and the USA, including the Medicines Company (MDCO) as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Strategy Officer. During his four-year tenure, he was an officer and member of the Executive Management team that lead the business transformation and ultimate sale of the Company.
Prior to MDCO, Jeff was the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources and Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk Inc. from 2004 to 2014. His leadership resulted in Novo Nordisk being named the number one “Best Place to Work” in New Jersey four times. They were also named to the Fortune Magazine “100 Best Companies to Work For” for six consecutive years. Prior to that role, he held several senior human resources positions with Pharmacia and Pfizer in Europe and the USA.
These experiences have given Jeff a unique and direct understanding of the R&D, Commercial and Supply Chain needs for talent in large and small organizations. His leadership roles in human resources allowed him to significantly impact the talent of organizations through his understanding of peoples’ capabilities and the critical need to match personalities with company culture for long-term mutual success.
Jeff received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kent State University and is active on ‘not-for-profit’ Boards.
