Building Beyond the Molecule: Placing a Director to Align Science, Strategy, and Growth

The Client

Our client is a global, commercial-stage biotechnology company committed to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative oncology treatments. With a market cap exceeding $22 billion and a footprint spanning six continents, the company is on a mission to radically improve access to affordable, high-quality cancer therapies.

Through internal R&D and global partnerships, the organization maintains a diverse and expanding pipeline—driven by a deep sense of purpose and an unrelenting commitment to innovation in cancer care.

The Challenge

To support its continued expansion and partnership efforts, the client needed a Director of Strategy who could bridge scientific expertise with strategic execution. This leader would play a key role in identifying and evaluating new business development opportunities, including M&A, partnerships, and pipeline synergies.

The ideal candidate needed to be equal parts strategist and scientist—comfortable working cross-functionally, communicating with senior stakeholders, and navigating ambiguity in a complex global environment.

Key responsibilities included:

• Partnering with business development and executive leadership to shape partnership and M&A strategy
• Performing due diligence and building business cases to support strategic decisions
• Leading cross-functional collaboration to identify and assess new opportunities
• Providing strategic insight for internal teams and external partners alike
• Framing complex problems with clarity and structure, and driving results through thoughtful execution

Our Approach

We focused on candidates with a deep background in biosciences and experience in high-impact strategy roles—whether in management consulting, healthcare investment banking, or within top-tier biopharma firms.

We sought professionals who had:

• Experience in commercial due diligence and strategic value creation
• Strong communication and cross-functional influence skills
• A proven ability to manage ambiguity, structure complex challenges, and drive decisions
• A background in oncology or related therapeutic areas
• Experience in global contexts, particularly those with exposure to China

PhDs and MBAs were preferred, but above all, we prioritized those who could connect the dots between science and strategy.

The Placement

We placed a seasoned biopharmaceutical strategist with a rare blend of scientific depth, strategic thinking, and global leadership. His background included roles in portfolio management, R&D strategy, and global medical affairs at several leading biopharma organizations.

Highlights of his experience included:

• Guiding development decisions across more than 20 assets in oncology, immunology, and ophthalmology
• Leading internal consulting and transformation initiatives across compliance, clinical trials, stakeholder engagement, and real-world data
• Managing multi-billion-dollar synergy tracking from acquisitions, and developing enterprise-wide strategic imperatives
• Serving as chief of staff and trusted advisor to senior leaders in Global Medical Affairs and Development Science
• Building strategy functions, driving critical Board-level insights, and mentoring talent through equity and inclusion programs

The Outcome

Since stepping into the role, the new Director of Strategy has provided critical R&D context for Board-level conversations, supported business development initiatives in hematologic oncology, and identified high-potential areas for future growth.

Beyond deal strategy, he has become a culture carrier—serving as a mentor through the company’s BeWISE employee resource group and helping foster an inclusive environment for rising leaders.

With this placement, the company gained a trusted strategic advisor with the scientific fluency, leadership presence, and results-driven mindset needed to help shape the next era of oncology innovation.