Research, Technology and Innovation

We have developed one of the world’s largest practices offering expert, specialised global search services for leadership appointments in Research, Technology and Innovation.

Building upon our market leading position in supporting universities and independent research institutes globally to appoint world-class research leaders in STEM, we have been able to advise a wide array of commercial science and research organisations, including large industry, Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and innovation-focused Public Private Partnerships, in making outstanding strategic research and organisational leadership appointments.

Increasing demand for collaboration and co-creation between academic research and private enterprise requires new models of research leadership. Individuals with the ability to move effortlessly between academic and commercial contexts, balancing a deep understanding of and appreciation for fundamental research with the ability to deliver commercially. Our clients benefit from a unique combination of proprietary analytics tools and our in-depth knowledge of academic and commercial research contexts, which allows us to more precisely identify outstanding candidates for strategic research leadership appointments.

How We Think

Where We Can help

Research and Technology Organisations

As one of the foremost executive search firms working with RTOs and other research-focused organisations, Perrett Laver has extensive experience of advising on appointments for those who lead and shape organisations committed to innovation in research.

The distinctive, impact-oriented mission of RTOs requires innovative and adaptable leadership, with deep knowledge and understanding of the contract research landscape and commercial environment, and the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

In the light of the fact that RTOs exist in a variety of different forms, whether state run or wholly privatised commercials organisations – or a hybrid of both – identifying the next generation of leaders is critical to the continued successes and positive impacts of these organisations.

Academic Translation

Perrett Laver has extensive experience of advising on appointments for those who lead and shape the translation and commercialisation processes for universities, research institutes and other research-oriented organisations. Governments and funding bodies alike are demanding significantly greater evidence of impact from their academic research partners.

Rapid translation of research outcomes into wider economic impact is critical to a nation’s ability to remain competitive in the global economy. Perrett Laver’s wealth of experience advising on senior leadership appointments across academe, RTOs and other impact-driven research-oriented organisations means we are uniquely placed to identify individuals capable of leading innovation and commercialisation of academic research.  

Innovation

Perrett Laver has developed one of the world’s largest senior level executive search practices offering highly specialised search services for senior appointments in research and innovation-focused organisations, and we have unparalleled reach in the knowledge sector.

Industrial research and innovation is increasingly driven by collaboration with the public and knowledge sectors. The increasingly permeable boundary between private enterprise and academia in particular, presents significant opportunities for global talent acquisition, allowing organisations to look beyond their industry to identify fresh, world-leading talent.

Perrett Laver’s breadth of experience enables us to identify relevant individuals broadly from across the public, private and knowledge sectors, and we have an excellent track record in successfully moving individuals across sectors.

Biopharmaceuticals

Perrett Laver has global experience working with R&D firms, health organisations and Universities to build highly-skilled leaders that can thrive in this changing environment.

Identifying the next generation of innovative scientific leaders will be critical to future success in the pharmaceutical industry, especially as we move into the era of personalised medicine.

Industrial research and innovation is increasingly driven by collaboration with the public and knowledge sectors, and the increasingly permeable boundary between private enterprise and academia presents significant opportunities for global talent acquisition, allowing organisations to look beyond their industry and identify fresh, world-leading talent.

Industrial R & D

On the back of our market leading position advising on appointments of world class academic research leaders in STEM we have been able to effectively support private sector science and research based organisations, RTOs and Innovation Catalysers in making outstanding scientific and organisational leadership appointments. In strengthening their own research leadership in the light of the global demand for increased levels of co-creation between academic research and industrial translation, our particular appreciation for the difference yet also commonalities between the two has become important. We rely on a proprietary analytics model for identification and screening of candidates developed by our team of in-house research team, many of have previously held academic research posts in academia.

University Professors

Our Global Chairs and Professors practice has developed a rigorous and robust methodology based on our proprietary analytics for identifying, engaging and securing exceptional research talent. In the past few years we have advised on over 1,000 professorial appointments for every discipline imaginable. We support global research intensive and research ambitious universities in nearly 50 different countries across six continents. Over half of those appointed through our processes relocate internationally to take on their new post. The global nature of our work is intrinsic to success. Principally we work on the appointment of full, tenured Professors, many of which are to endowed or named Chairs. We work across the full ranges of disciplines and our specific methodology can be adapted to the particular nuances of each specialism, including, for example, attention to a need for clinical qualifications and expertise, industry engagement or practice-orientation. We have extensive experience advising upon leadership searches for the world’s leading research centres or institutes, typically at CEO or board level.

Who to talk to

Recent Research and Innovation Clients

Recent Research and Innovation Appointments

Perrett Laver appoints new leadership team as company embarks on

11th May, 2023: Perrett Laver, the leading purpose-driven international executive search firm, announces the appointment of a new Global Leadership Team to steer the company through its next phase of growth.  Arabella Chichester, Dr Sinead Gibney and Tom Weinberg, will take over from Co-Founders Dan Perrett and Simon Laver, who after 20 years, will transition to non-executive roles in the employee-owned company. Arabella Chichester and Dr Sinead Gibney will be appointed as Global Senior Partners and will be responsible for the long-term strategic development and accelerating commercial growth of the company. Arabella has been at Perrett Laver for twelve years and has been Global Head of the Social…

A WAKE-UP CALL: Cross-Sectoral Diversity and Board Room Equality

In March 2023, Perrett Laver and the Berlin Research 50 (BR50) joined forces and launched their cooperation at EMST Berlin, led by Dr. Nicole Shea, our Managing Partner for Germany, and Dr. Anja Sommerfeld, BR50. Chaired by Alexander S. Wolf, CEO of Stiftung AusserGewöhnlich Berlin, the panel comprised of Jutta Allmendinger, President of Wissenschaftszentrum Berlinfür Sozialforschung (WZB), Ole Bækhøj, Director of the Pierre Boulez Saal, Sabine Kunst, Chair of the Board of the Joachim Herz Stiftung and Maike Sander, Scientific Director and Chair of the Board of the Max Delbrück Center discussed the importance of networking and mentoring to push diversity and equality initiatives in the workplace.  The long-term goal of the program is to overcome gender inequality in terms of salaries and to support women in reaching leadership positions. The program addresses aspiring and experienced female scientists…

Prof Wiebke Arlt appointed Director of MRC London Institute of

The renowned clinical endocrinologist will join MRC LMS from the University of Birmingham on 1 January 2023 Professor Wiebke Arlt has been appointed Director of the Imperial College London-hosted Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS). She will formally take up her new position from 1 January 2023. In addition, Professor Arlt will become Head of Imperial’s Institute of Clinical Sciences, one of the eight academic departments that make up the College’s Faculty of Medicine. Wiebke is an award-winning clinical endocrinologist and leader of an international multi-disciplinary research team investigating the links between steroids and metabolic diseases. She will join…

Perrett Laver appoints new Managing Partner for its growing team

Leading international executive search firm, Perrett Laver, has announced the appointment of Dr Nicole Shea as its new Managing Partner, Germany, to head up its growing presence in the country.  Perrett Laver is dedicated to supporting the appointment of leaders in purpose-driven organisations that seek to change the world for the better. Nicole started her role in the company’s new Berlin office on 1st September.  A German national, she joins Perrett Laver from the Council for European Studies at Columbia University (CES), where she had served as Executive Director and Founder of the journal EuropeNow since 2015. In her role, she oversaw the renowned annual International Conference of Europeanists, the prestigious World Society Foundation…

ASC’s Supervisory Board welcomes new chair and five new members

ASC’s Supervisory Board has welcomed a number of new members recently, including a new chair, Margret Thalwitz, who brings to the role decades of experience in academia and organisations such as the World Bank. Margret is a Development Economist who has had a long career at the World Bank. Among other senior positions she was leading the Bank’s Global Partnership Department prior to leaving for a sabbatical year in Oxford to study the governance of global food security. She has been a consultant on development strategy, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Global Cooperation Research and a member of…

Richard Harrison new Managing Director Plant Sciences Group

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Richard Harrison as the Managing Director of the Plant Sciences Group (PSG) as of 1 September 2022. He succeeds Ernst van den Ende who is now Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group. Harrison is currently Director of NIAB Cambridge Crop Research. The Executive Board is delighted that Richard Harrison will take on the position of Managing Director. Announcing Harrison’s appointment president of the executive board WUR Louise O. Fresco said: â€œRichard Harrison’s international profile will be a great asset to WUR. We expect him to give a strong impetus to…