The Client Opportunity
Our client, a NJ-based medical device company, developed a novel drug delivery technology with huge market potential. However, they needed a highly experienced clinical operations leader to get their clinical trials under way. In order to get started in a timely manner, they retained Ashton Tweed to search for an interim Senior Director Clinical Operations as quickly as possible, while also performing the permanent search.
The Ashton Tweed Solution
The client required all candidates to have 10-12 years of experience in clinical operations, clinical development or project management. Ideally, they wanted someone with a medical device background – candidates with wound care or diabetes treatment experience would be a plus due to the applications of their novel therapeutic technology.
Although Ashton Tweed’s initial task was to find an interim executive, our recruiters knew that the candidates needed to be highly experienced leaders in order to get the client through this crucial time. Taking into consideration the client’s eagerness to get started, the Ashton Tweed team narrowed their search down to only candidates who were ready and available for interim work. After extensive research of over 150 potential candidates and in-depth conversations with the most qualified contenders, Ashton Tweed submitted 3 interim candidates and 4 permanent candidates for client interviews.
The client was thrilled with their choices after just one month of executive search and immediately pinpointed the individual that was a perfect fit for their team. The hired interim candidate was a clinical operations executive with a successful record of managing all aspects of global clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. This individual had over 20 years of experience in the industry, including experience bringing medical devices to FDA approval and developing diabetic treatments.
After one month of intensive evaluation of the interim leader, the client was so content that they hired the executive permanently for an even larger role – Vice President Global Clinical Operations; a role they deemed necessary for the global success of their product. They hired a second candidate submitted by Ashton Tweed that the client favored for the original Senior Director Clinical Operations role later that year.
The Benefits
The client was very satisfied to welcome two top-notch clinical operations leaders to their team in such a short period. Their clinical plans were not delayed and they could efficiently move forward with their novel drug delivery technology. The client was extremely grateful and continues to utilize Ashton Tweed’s executive search team for interim and permanent executive roles.