LIFE SCIENCE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FOR AN EVOLVING INDUSTRY
Occam Global is a leading life sciences recruitment firm transforming how biotech, pharma, and TechBio organizations recruit and build top-tier leadership teams that drive innovation, growth, and move markets.
WHO WE
WORK WITH
Venture-Backed
Founders
First-time and repeat founders hiring a CEO, CSO, CTO, CBO, CPO, or CMO ahead of a Series raise, first-in-human study, or an IND filing.
Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms
Portfolio company leadership assessment, CEO succession, independent board director recruitment, and pre-deal management team diligence.
AI-Native and Computationally Driven Life Sciences
Companies applying machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, and large-scale data generation to drug discovery and development.
TRANSFORMING
LIFE SCIENCE LEADERSHIP
We think strategically, combining global reach with nuanced market intelligence to surface leaders others miss. Our life science executive search methodology is transparent, rigorous, and deeply human, exploring each candidate's origin story, leadership journey, and motivations to ensure high-impact, transformative fit.
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Deliver candidates who align precisely with your brief for experience, leadership competency, and culture fit
Introduce highly credible, high-potential, and sometimes unconventional leaders who expand what's possible for your organization
Build intentional shortlists of leaders who operate in complexity today and create compounding value over time
Integrate intelligent data ecosystems across research, clinical, regulatory, medical, and commercial functions in preparation for an agentic future
Harness AI and computational science to accelerate discovery, development, and commercialization
Turn complex scientific and technical insight into a clear, human-centered strategy
How Our Life Sciences Recruitment Process Works
WHY LEADING ORGANIZATIONS CHOOSE OUR LIFE SCIENCE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM
Organizations choose Occam Global because we combine deep sector expertise with a wide generalist lens, bringing you leaders you won’t find through traditional executive recruitment firm for life science companies.
MARKET INTELLIGENCE THAT DELIVERS RESULTS
We track capital flows, therapeutic focus areas, AI platforms, and leadership movements across the global life sciences landscape in real time. Our life sciences executive search process is grounded in current market insight, not static databases, connecting you with candidates who are relevant, in-demand, and positioned where the market is heading.
GENERALIST VISION WITH SPECIALIST DEPTH
Deeply embedded in life sciences while intentionally fluent in adjacent domains including AI, data infrastructure, robotics, and defense tech, our broader lens surfaces leaders who do more than run a function. They build life science organizations that are resilient, scalable, and positioned for what comes next.
EXPANSIVE NETWORK WITH DISTINCTLY CREATIVE APPROACH
We provide in-depth profiles of preferred candidates and introduce new prospects throughout the process. Our team surfaces leaders with cross-functional, cross-border, and cross-sector experience; operators, founders, builders, and technologists who bring fresh thinking to complex life science scientific businesses.
LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST PLACEMENT
We operate as strategic partners beyond placement, advising on organizational design, succession planning, and leadership strategy to ensure each life science CEO search contributes to lasting enterprise value.
RECURSION
PHARMACEUTICALS
CHALLENGE
Executives who could operate across biotech, AI, and data science, a profile traditional candidate pools rarely produce, plus leaders experienced in partnerships, funding rounds, and IPO execution.
OUTCOME
Leadership team in place for Recursion's April 2021 IPO, and strategic readiness for the acquisition of Exscientia.
OCCAM HAS BEEN A FORMIDABLE RECRUITING PARTNER FOR RECURSION. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THEY HAVE HELPED US MAKE KEY ADDITIONS TO THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND BOARD.
RECENT PLACEMENTS IN Life Science EXECUTIVE SEARCH
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RECOGNITION AND
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
RANKED TOP EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM
Occam Global was recognized by Hunt Scanlon Media, the executive search industry's leading source of talent management news and rankings.
LIFE SCIENCE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
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Bill Holodnak, CEO of Occam Global, serves on the Board of Directors of Life Science Cares NYC, a nonprofit mobilizing the life sciences industry to fight poverty in New York.
Our Insights
Explore life science executive search, recruitment insider insights and survey highlights shaping the future of innovation.
FAQ
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DISTINCTIVE APPROACH
What C-suite and board roles are included in your life sciences executive search scope?
Our life sciences executive search practice spans all critical leadership roles, including CEO, CSO (Chief Scientific Officer), CMO (Chief Medical Officer), CCO (Chief Commercial Officer), and General Counsel. We also specialize in placing Venture Partners, General Partners, and Board Directors who bring essential experience in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and digital transformation.
Does Occam Global's global life sciences executive search network extend beyond major US biotech hubs?
Yes. We leverage our comprehensive global network with physical associates in New York, San Francisco, London, and Los Angeles to serve clients and identify talent across the US and Europe. This global reach is crucial for securing the rare, specialized leadership talent required in today's fiercely competitive, international life sciences sector.
What role does Occam Global's expertise in technology and VC play in its life sciences executive search strategy?
Our specialization in both technology and venture capital provides proprietary market intelligence and unparalleled access. For life sciences clients, this means we can tap into a talent pool that includes leaders from high-growth tech who are positioned to drive digital transformation in biotech, pharma, and techbio, a critical edge for innovative, entrepreneurial organizations.
What is Occam Global's unique competitive advantage in the current life sciences executive search market?
Our core differentiator is our expertise at the intersection of science and technology, specifically in TechBio executive search. We don't just find traditional life sciences leaders; we source executives who possess fluency in AI, data science, and computational biology alongside scientific and business acumen. This allows us to deliver future-ready leaders for the industry's most innovative ventures.
How does Occam Global's vetting process ensure cultural and strategic alignment for life sciences executive candidates?
Our process is exceptionally deep. Beyond evaluating credentials and technical expertise, we conduct an in-depth evaluation of each candidate's "origin story", analyzing their career decisions, transitions, and core motivators. This rigorous method and judgement ensures candidates possess the necessary skills and align with the client's vision, ethical standards, and long-term strategic goals for sustainable growth.