Holding Out for the Right Solution

Large Pharmaceutical Company

VP Clinical Development Group

The client, located in one of North America's most competitive markets, needed a new head of clinical research.

Finding an excellent candidate early in our search, with an outstanding CV, who was trained in top schools, well published and accomplished in the scientific community, many on the client committee lined up to support this candidate. Despite the clients' apparent satisfaction with the search, at the Higgins Group we were not convinced that the candidate was well matched for the position. In our view, while strong on paper, he did not have the right leadership qualities, and was very used to being the central or sole player and not part of a team. We were sufficiently concerned to counsel against hiring that person - even though we did not have a back-up at the time and it would extend our search. At the Higgins Group we don't take the short solution. When we fill a position we do it with a long term view and we work to keep our clients out of trouble.

The Higgins Group found a second candidate, also excellent on paper, who was an established leader with good people skills and without ego issues. This turned out to be an outstanding hire for our client - so good that they hired an entire team below him without needing us because 'everyone wants to work for this guy'. Holding out for the right solution is the Higgins way.