Executive Search Success Story: Recruiting a VP of Supply Chain to Transform Field Inventory and Surgical Set Logistics for an Orthopedic Device Company
How JRG Partners executed a confidential North American executive search that equipped a publicly traded orthopedic device company with the VP of Supply Chain and field logistics leadership required to reduce more than $200M in consigned and loaner inventory, improve surgical set availability for hospital customers, and modernize distribution across a national network of distributors and sales representatives.
Engagement Snapshot
| Client | Confidential — publicly traded orthopedic implant and instrument company with $780M in annual revenue (name withheld at client’s request) |
| Industry | Medical Devices — Orthopedics & Surgical Implants — encompassing consigned and loaner field inventory, surgical set and kit logistics, distributor and representative supply, demand planning, and hospital customer service |
| Geography | North America — wide-scale candidate mapping across orthopedic and surgical device companies, medical device distributors, and healthcare logistics organizations |
| Engagement | Confidential retained search — VP of Supply Chain placement with field inventory reduction, set availability improvement, and distribution modernization mandate |
| Roles Searched | VP of Supply Chain, Director of Field Inventory & Set Logistics, Director of Demand Planning & Distribution |
| Talent Assessed | 265+ medical device supply chain and field logistics leaders evaluated across the industry |
| Timeline | VP of Supply Chain placed in 48 days; field inventory and planning leadership deployed within five months |
The Challenge
A publicly traded orthopedic device company had grown its product portfolio and surgeon base rapidly, but its field supply chain had not kept pace. More than $200M of implants and instrument sets sat consigned at hospitals, in distributor warehouses, and in representatives’ vehicles with limited visibility, while surgeons still experienced set shortages and case delays. Investors were questioning inventory turns, hospitals were pushing back on consignment levels, and the company’s field logistics were managed with legacy tools and manual processes. Executive leadership identified several critical vulnerabilities threatening the business:
- Consigned and loaner inventory exceeding $200M with inventory turns well below peer benchmarks
- Surgical set availability failures causing case delays and surgeon dissatisfaction despite excess inventory
- Limited visibility into field inventory location, utilization, and expiration across distributors and representatives
- Loaner set turnaround and reprocessing cycles extending set shortages
- Demand planning disconnected from surgeon-level procedure forecasts and new product launches
- Investor and hospital pressure to reduce inventory while improving service
Recognizing that field supply chain transformation required a specialized executive, the CEO and COO engaged JRG Partners to recruit a VP of Supply Chain, supported by a Director of Field Inventory & Set Logistics and a Director of Demand Planning & Distribution. The company required an executive search partner with deep orthopedic expertise and access to supply chain leaders who had reduced field inventory while improving set availability in surgical device businesses.
Why They Chose JRG Partners
Medical Device Supply Chain Focus
JRG Partners possesses deep recruiting expertise across orthopedic and surgical device companies, medical device distributors, and healthcare logistics organizations, including supply chain, field inventory, and distribution leadership. This domain knowledge ensured an immediate understanding of consignment economics, loaner set logistics, distributor dynamics, and the surgeon-level service expectations unique to orthopedics.
VP of Supply Chain Search Specialization
Our firm maintains a dedicated practice for VP of Supply Chain searches in medical device and medtech companies, with a proven methodology for evaluating candidates on field inventory transformation, set availability performance, and measurable working capital improvement.
Public Company Supply Chain Leadership
Our team has extensive experience recruiting supply chain executives for publicly traded medical device companies, with a clear understanding of inventory metrics investors scrutinize and the service standards hospital customers expect.
Our Executive Search Strategy
Phase 1 — Field Supply Chain Review
Our consultants partnered directly with the CEO, COO, CFO, and commercial leadership to review field inventory composition, set availability data, loaner cycle times, distributor arrangements, and planning maturity. This review defined a VP of Supply Chain profile combining orthopedic field logistics transformation, inventory optimization, and demand planning leadership.
Phase 2 — Talent Identification & Mapping
Our research team performed an extensive talent mapping initiative targeting supply chain leaders at orthopedic and surgical device companies, medical device distributors, and healthcare logistics organizations who had led documented field inventory and set logistics transformations. Over 265 executives were systematically assessed across these sectors.
Phase 3 — Candidate Engagement
Priority during outreach was given to leaders with a documented history of reducing consigned inventory while raising set availability, implementing field inventory visibility and utilization analytics, shortening loaner turnaround, and connecting demand planning to procedure forecasts and launches. Only candidates meeting these strict performance baselines advanced.
Phase 4 — Selection Process
Finalists presented a field inventory and set availability transformation plan to the CEO, COO, and commercial leadership, completed structured leadership assessments, and underwent reference verification focused on quantified inventory, service, and working capital outcomes.
Results Delivered
JRG Partners successfully completed the mandate, placing a VP of Supply Chain and supporting field inventory and planning leadership.
- VP of Supply Chain Appointed: A former VP of Global Supply Chain from a large orthopedic company who had led two field inventory transformations joined within 48 days.
- Field Inventory Reduced: Consigned and loaner inventory fell by $58M within eighteen months through visibility, utilization analytics, and set rationalization.
- Set Availability Improved: Surgical set availability rose above 99% and case delays attributable to supply were reduced to near zero.
- Loaner Cycle Shortened: Loaner set turnaround was cut by 40% through reprocessing and logistics process redesign.
- Planning Connected: Demand planning was linked to surgeon-level procedure forecasts and launch plans, improving allocation of new product sets.
- Investor and Hospital Confidence Strengthened: Inventory turns improved toward peer benchmarks and hospital consignment negotiations were resolved favorably.
Key Outcomes
- 265+ medical device supply chain and field logistics leader profiles mapped across North America.
- Placed a VP of Supply Chain with proven orthopedic field inventory experience in 48 days.
- Reduced consigned and loaner inventory by $58M while improving service.
- Raised surgical set availability above 99% and eliminated supply-driven case delays.
- Cut loaner set turnaround by 40%.
- Improved inventory turns toward peer benchmarks and resolved hospital consignment pressure.
Planning a Confidential VP of Supply Chain Search in Medical Devices or Medtech?
JRG Partners recruits VPs of Supply Chain and senior planning, field logistics, procurement, and distribution leadership for medical device, medtech, and diagnostics companies across North America — discreetly, and with deep sector expertise.
Connect with our medical device supply chain search experts today to discuss your mandate.
Connect With Our VP of Supply Chain Search Experts