John McFarland Appointed Head of Healthcare Practice at Odgers Berndtson US
Odgers Berndtson is pleased to announce that John McFarland has been appointed as Head of the firm’s US Healthcare Practice.
John has distinguished himself in Odgers Berndtson’s Healthcare Practice, leveraging his experience, expertise, and relationships to help clients find the executive talent they need to meet their objectives and goals in this variable industry. Prior to joining Odgers Berndtson, he spent nearly 10 years in executive search and worked at Ernst & Young (now EY) where he consulted with healthcare organizations and gleaned a unique perspective for all aspects of the industry. John spent the first eight years of his career serving in the United States Army, where his service included commanding at the company level, serving two tours of duty in combat, and receipt of the Bronze Star medal. He earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his master’s in business administration from the University of Georgia.
John succeeds Nick Brill, who has led Odgers Berndtson’s Healthcare Practice since 2016, and has helped to grow and shape both our Healthcare Practice as well as the teams of our clients. Nick will continue as part of the firm, bringing his rich experience and support to our clients in the Healthcare sector. The transfer of leadership from Nick to John is a planned succession; Odgers Berndtson regularly advises its clients on effective succession planning. The smooth and successful transfer of leadership is something we take very seriously for our own firm as well.
Says John, “I am honored to be stepping into the leadership role for Odgers’ Healthcare Practice. The healthcare ecosystem continues to rapidly evolve with massive growth potential, and top-tier talent and leadership will be crucial for companies and organizations that want to drive the sector forward and distinguish themselves as innovators and leaders. Nick Brill has built an agile and experienced team, and our clients and placements have enjoyed much success under his leadership. I am eager to follow in Nick’s footsteps and continue to help our clients navigate and solve for the human capital landscape of today and tomorrow.”
Says Nick Brill, former Head of the Healthcare Practice, “I am excited to be able to welcome John into this Healthcare leadership role and feel nothing but confidence in the continued growth of the business with John at the helm. He is deeply experienced advising clients in this industry and well-equipped to guide them through the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. I look forward to continuing to support him as a tenured partner.”
“Healthcare is one of the fastest growing and rapidly-changing sectors in the world, and Odgers Berndtson is well-poised to continue to advise our healthcare and healthtech clients as they further build out their executive leadership landscape to support future growth," says Kennon Kincaid, CEO of Odgers Berndtson US. “I am so grateful to Nick for all he has done to set our Healthcare Practice and team up for success, and I am confident in John’s leadership and vision for the practice area as he steps into his new role. Succession planning and strategic leadership transitions are something we advise our clients on every day, and this transition has been in the works for a while now. I’m very excited we chose to hand the baton to one of our own in this area of our business, and I look forward to continuing to serve our healthcare clients as the progressive, innovative firm they’ve come to expect.”