Perfect Fit: Life Sciences Practice welcomes David Bevan

David Bevan has enjoyed an extensive 35-year career in the pharmaceuticals industry. His experience spans a range of commercial, transformation and leadership positions, including CEO roles, at leading pharmaceutical companies across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

In addition to a wealth of success in leadership and general management, David has led large-scale change and transformation initiatives, launched new treatments and built commercial partnerships. His talent management skills are considerable and include leadership development, coaching and building high-performing teams.

David now joins Odgers Berndtson’s Life Sciences Practice, bringing a reputation, style, relationships and credentials that are second to none.

We speak to him about why he’s joined and his work in the practice.

What attracted you to Odgers Berndtson?

I’ve been in the industry for a long time – working in many fantastic roles from start-ups to large global corporates doing everything from commercial product sales to regional and executive management. I have a deep understanding of how the industry works at all levels and can tap into a broad network of connections. This is what I want to bring to Odgers Berndtson’s Life Sciences Practice.

I’ve always been drawn to complex businesses or people challenges. Executive search is no exception and gives me the opportunity to translate challenging business needs into people.

I never thought I’d join a search firm but I saw something special in Odgers Berndtson and its people – it’s different, passionate and highly performance driven and uniquely talented to deliver value for innovative high-growth life sciences organisations; it’s perfect.

What’s your focus in the Life Sciences Practice?

Almost all of our work is for early-stage biotech, diagnostics and digital health companies. Much of the latter are raising series A-C and are at the inflection point where they are rethinking their management expertise and looking for a new breed of leaders.

What upcoming trends do you see in 2023?

A lot more consolidation and change in go-to-market models, particularly with a digital and AI lens.

Healthcare is also becoming increasingly unaffordable and so improving the efficiency of go-to-market models will also see a lot of attention this year.

We’ve seen this with western governments restricting pricing and access and changing treatment modalities and care pathways, so it will need innovative leaders to develop new, more effective methods of launching new treatments.

This will create opportunities for dynamic and forward-thinking collaborative leaders who bring different experiences and thinking to the industry. We’re an aging society, living longer with more diseases – this requires different thinking and solutions to those provided by traditional ways of working. So those who are breaking the mold, challenging archaic cultures and healthcare systems, understanding the power of equity and diversity, and bringing new approaches will be in high demand.

If you would like to speak with the Life Sciences team on any of the topics David discussed please get in touch with us here. You can also find your local Odgers Berndtson contact here.

Stay up to date: Sign up here for our global newsletter OBSERVE, and receive the latest news in leadership and top talent, industry insights, and events directly to your inbox.