Rapid CMO Placement for a Clinical-Stage Biotech

The challenge

A clinical-stage biotech company faced a critical leadership gap at a pivotal moment in its development. They urgently needed to appoint a Chief Medical Officer to lead clinical strategy and oversee regulatory engagement. Waiting three to six months for a traditional retained search was not an option, as delays risked slowing clinical progress and impacting investor confidence.

The Board debated whether to engage a large executive search firm or partner with a highly specialised provider that could deliver speed without compromising quality. The challenge was intensified by several key factors:

• Time-to-hire: Any delay threatened clinical timelines and investor momentum
• Market saturation: Experienced CMOs are in high demand, with most already approached by multiple firms
• Cost risk: Traditional retained search models require significant upfront fees before results are delivered

Solution

The company partnered with us due to our exclusive specialisation in CMO placements within biotech. Unlike generalist search firms, we did not need weeks to map the market or refine candidate profiles. We already had deep, trusted relationships with senior medical leaders aligned to the company’s scientific and strategic goals.

Our approach included:

• Immediate access to a pre-qualified CMO network built on long-standing relationships and credibility
• No upfront fees, removing financial risk while maintaining accountability
• Direct, consultative screening to ensure both cultural and scientific alignment

Results 

We successfully filled the Chief Medical Officer role within four weeks, delivering a materially faster outcome than traditional retained search timelines. This ensured continuity in clinical leadership and protected the company’s development and regulatory momentum.

Key results included:

• CMO hired in 4 weeks, compared to a typical 3–6 month retained search timeline
• Zero upfront fees, significantly reducing financial risk
• Highly taregted network leveraged, eliminating lengthy market mapping
• Significant time and cost savings, enabling uninterrupted clinical progress