Shifting Strategies with Cardio Medical Device Board Search
The Challenge
Apex Leaders’ client held an early-stage investment in a cardiovascular medical device company. They had a promising new product and wanted a new board member to help them navigate the FDA and CE regulatory processes as quickly as possible. With approval, they hoped to exit through a liquidity event.
Target Profile
The client wanted a Board member that was a former CEO of a cardiac implant device company, who had experience with CE marking and FDA regulatory approval, and had navigated a successful liquidity event.
The Search
Matching a profile with so many highly specific technical requirements is a tall order. During their interviews, the client realized their actual needs were different from what they initially thought—which is not unusual in a board search. We revised their desired profile to reflect someone with the contacts required to attract potential buyers or go public: a former executive of a multinational medical device company.
“Given such narrow criteria I was skeptical, but Apex Leaders took the challenge and delivered highly qualified candidates in a very short period of time. Apex was responsive and took the time to understand our business and needs.”
Mike Taglich
Taglich Brothers
The Results
With the new direction, we had to pivot quickly. Apex presented the client with four high-quality candidates that matched the new profile, including:
- Former President | St. Jude Medical, Cardiac Surgery Division
- Former Founder and Chairman | Abiomed
- Former Founder | CoreValue
- President, US Division | St. Jude Medical
Last Word
Our client ultimately selected one of these cardiac leaders. They were also able to expand their own network by developing rapport with the other cardiac implant veterans we introduced them to.