Denise (DeeDee) DeMan

DeeDee DeMan built Bench International from a single-person life science and healthcare executive recruiting firm into a global recruiting and advisory firm for boards and leadership teams. In short, throughout the 5 generations of Bench International, DeeDee and Team never give up, never reducing their dogged momentum, or their client and candidate care, until their work is done. DeeDee has been a champion for those who, “think and do differently,” yet never compromising on cultural fit for each client.

In 2009 DeeDee was the first executive recruiter in life science sector history to be named, “1 of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Leaders” by PharmaVOICE Magazine, and is a Hall of Fame Inductee of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). DeeDee is an Independent Director on the Mammogen, Inc. board. She is also the founder of The Bank of Women®, comprising over 550 women who are Ready Now for Independent Director and C-Suite roles in the life science and healthcare sector. Giving back to the industry is critically important to DeeDee. To that end, she serves as a Member of the Board of Governors of BIOCOM California, a Member of BIOCOM’s DE&I Task Force, and is a founding Corporate Sponsor of Life Science Cares, in Massachusetts and California. In 2022, DeeDee was a finalist for the San Diego Business Journal’s CEO of the Year award.

DeeDee holds a double Masters of Science degree in Auditory Pathology and Speech Pathology. Prior to founding Bench, DeeDee served as a Research Fellow in a joint research program sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Siemens Corporation, the University of California, San Diego, State Diego State University, and the San Diego Speech and Hearing Center. DeeDee is also a graduate of Drexel University’s Corporate Governance Program.