Executive Search Success Story: Securing a VP of Supply Chain to Build Global Planning and Regulated Supply Capability for a High-Growth Medical Technology Company
How JRG Partners executed a confidential North American executive search that equipped a high-growth medical technology company with its first VP of Supply Chain and the planning, procurement, and distribution leadership required to build an integrated global supply chain, meet regulated supplier requirements, and support international expansion and a planned public offering.
Engagement Snapshot
| Client | Confidential — growth-stage medical technology company with $280M in annual revenue preparing for international expansion and public offering (name withheld at client’s request) |
| Industry | Medical Technology & Regulated Supply — encompassing global demand and supply planning, regulated supplier management, contract manufacturing oversight, international distribution, and inventory strategy |
| Geography | North America — wide-scale candidate mapping across medical device, diagnostics, and life sciences companies and regulated supply chain organizations |
| Engagement | Confidential retained search — first-ever VP of Supply Chain placement with global planning build, regulated supplier management, and public-offering readiness mandate |
| Roles Searched | VP of Supply Chain, Director of Global Planning, Director of Supplier Quality & Procurement |
| Talent Assessed | 275+ medical device and life sciences supply chain leaders evaluated across the industry |
| Timeline | VP of Supply Chain placed in 49 days; planning and supplier leadership deployed within five months |
The Challenge
A growth-stage medical technology company had tripled revenue in three years through U.S. commercial success and was preparing to enter European and Asia-Pacific markets ahead of a planned public offering. Its supply chain had been managed by operations and finance staff without a dedicated leader, relying on a mix of internal assembly and contract manufacturers with limited supplier controls. International expansion required regulated distribution, multi-market planning, and supplier quality systems the company did not have. Executive leadership identified several critical vulnerabilities threatening the expansion and offering:
- No supply chain executive or integrated planning function at $280M in revenue
- Supplier quality and procurement controls below the standard required by regulators and public-company auditors
- Contract manufacturers managed informally with no capacity planning or performance management
- No international distribution, import and export compliance, or multi-market inventory strategy
- Inventory levels and obsolescence rising with no demand planning discipline
- Public-offering diligence requiring demonstrated supply chain governance and scalability
Recognizing that expansion and the offering required a professional supply chain executive, the CEO and board engaged JRG Partners to recruit the company’s first VP of Supply Chain, supported by a Director of Global Planning and a Director of Supplier Quality & Procurement. The company required an executive search partner with deep medical technology expertise and access to supply chain leaders who had built global, regulated supply chains in high-growth companies.
Why They Chose JRG Partners
Medical Technology and Regulated Supply Chain Expertise
JRG Partners possesses deep recruiting expertise across medical device, diagnostics, and life sciences companies, including supply chain, planning, and supplier quality leadership. This domain knowledge ensured an immediate understanding of regulated supplier requirements, contract manufacturing governance, and international medical distribution.
First-Time Supply Chain Executive Placements
Our team specializes in identifying supply chain leaders who have built integrated global functions from the ground up in high-growth companies, bringing the pragmatism to establish governance without constraining commercial momentum.
Public-Offering Readiness Experience
JRG Partners has extensive experience serving growth-stage companies preparing for public offerings, with a clear understanding of diligence expectations, governance requirements, and the urgency of leadership placements tied to offering timelines.
Our Executive Search Strategy
Phase 1 — Global Supply Chain Review
Our consultants partnered directly with the CEO, CFO, COO, and head of quality to assess planning maturity, supplier controls, contract manufacturer relationships, international requirements, and offering diligence expectations. This review defined a VP of Supply Chain profile combining global function building, regulated supplier management, and public-company governance.
Phase 2 — Talent Identification & Mapping
Our research team performed an extensive talent mapping initiative targeting supply chain leaders at medical device, diagnostics, and life sciences companies who had built global planning and regulated supplier functions in high-growth environments. Over 275 executives were systematically assessed across these sectors.
Phase 3 — Candidate Engagement
Priority during outreach was given to leaders with a documented history of establishing integrated planning, implementing supplier quality and procurement controls that satisfied regulators and auditors, professionalizing contract manufacturer management, and launching international distribution. Only candidates meeting these strict performance baselines advanced.
Phase 4 — Selection Process
Finalists presented a global supply chain build plan to the CEO, CFO, and board, completed structured leadership assessments, and underwent reference verification focused on quantified planning, supplier, and international launch outcomes.
Results Delivered
JRG Partners successfully completed the mandate, placing the company’s first VP of Supply Chain and supporting planning and supplier leadership.
- VP of Supply Chain Appointed: A former VP of Global Supply Chain from a publicly traded medical device company who had built two international supply chains joined within 49 days.
- Global Planning Established: An integrated sales and operations planning process across U.S. and international markets was implemented within six months.
- Supplier Controls Implemented: Supplier quality, procurement, and contract manufacturer management programs met regulatory and public-company audit standards with no findings.
- International Launch Delivered: Regulated distribution, import and export compliance, and multi-market inventory were in place for European and Asia-Pacific launches on schedule.
- Inventory Optimized: Demand planning discipline reduced inventory by 28% and cut obsolescence by more than half.
- Offering Readiness Achieved: Supply chain governance was cited as a strength in public-offering diligence.
Key Outcomes
- 275+ medical device and life sciences supply chain leader profiles mapped across North America.
- Placed the company’s first VP of Supply Chain with proven global and regulated experience in 49 days.
- Established integrated global planning within six months.
- Implemented supplier controls meeting regulatory and audit standards with no findings.
- Delivered international launches on schedule with compliant distribution.
- Reduced inventory by 28% and supported a successful public-offering diligence process.
Planning a Confidential VP of Supply Chain Search for a High-Growth or Regulated Company?
JRG Partners recruits VPs of Supply Chain and senior global planning, procurement, supplier quality, and distribution leadership for medical technology, life sciences, and high-growth companies across North America — discreetly, and with deep sector expertise.
Connect with our supply chain search experts today to discuss your mandate.
Connect With Our VP of Supply Chain Search Experts