Project Description

Chief Commercial Officer Search for an Oncology-Focused Biotech Firm

Our small, private biotech client had its first asset (an oncology therapeutic)  in phase 3 clinical trials and they were ready to begin preparing it for market. They had invented the drug a decade earlier and were attempting to make the transition from an R&D-focused company to a commercially-focused company. They needed an experienced Chief Commercial Officer to make it happen.

We had our initial meeting with the CEO at the annual BIO conference, which was held a few weeks prior to the annual ASCO conference. Based on our experience and client references in the commercial oncology space, we were selected to conduct the search for the CCO. The decision to commence the search was made prior to ASCO in order to take advantage of the tremendous networking value of the conference.

With ASCO just days away, our client initiated the search and we got to work developing the Opportunity Profile that we would use to market the position. It was developed and agreed to and dozens of networking meetings with potential candidates were scheduled for the ASCO conference. There was quite a bit of interest from senior level oncology executives and six were selected to meet briefly with our client’s CEO and CSO at the conference.Networking and interviewing continued throughout the conference and for weeks after. Candidate profiles were developed and discussed with our client.   Finalists were selected and brought into the headquarters for additional interviews.

Given that this was the first commercial hire for the organization, the profile of the ideal candidate evolved slightly throughout the search process as the management team met commercial oncology executives with a variety of skill-sets and strengths. In the end, two of our candidates were hired. They both had strong backgrounds in oncology development and marketing, had strengths that complimented each other in a very effective manner, but were at two different management levels. It was an ideal fit for both and a win-win for both of the candidates and our client company. We have received glowing reports from the CEO on both executives during each follow-up call since their hire.