By: Emily Daniele, on behalf of Bench International
In an era where executive search is dominated by digital tools and AI, it’s easy to forget the humble beginnings of the industry. Founded in 1974, Bench International has not only witnessed but actively shaped this evolution. From its roots in academia to its international reach today, Bench has consistently defied expectations, revolutionizing the way top talent connects with leading organizations in all of the life sciences sectors.
The Beginnings: A Vision Born from Necessity
Bench International’s journey began in academia, where DeeDee DeMan, founder and CEO of Bench International, worked as a researcher in auditory pathology and drug side effects that caused profound hearing loss. Frustrated by her own job-hunting experience during a challenging economic climate, DeeDee consulted a recruiter who suggested leveraging her scientific training for a career in executive search. She quickly identified a critical gap in the market: companies were paying for retained search services but were often dissatisfied with the results. “Bench was literally built on the feedback of angry, poorly served clients,” DeeDee recalls.
With determination, a rotary phone, and invaluable mentorship offered by industry leaders, DeeDee set out to bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and the leadership talent needed to drive innovation. Early days were marked by ambitious projects, including establishing industrial postdoc programs for giants like Pfizer, Merck, and Dow. The firm mobilized response teams of environmental scientists, physicians, and epidemiology teams to address the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and its impact on human and environmental health. This sparked the creation of Bench’s disease management vertical, opening new doors in patient care. As DeeDee expanded her network, honored to work with visionaries such as Amgen’s George Rathmann and investor groups that further solidified Bench’s foothold in the industry.
A Decade of Expansion and Influence
The 1990s saw Bench’s reputation soar as the firm made key placements in toxicology, clinical research, and regulatory fields for major players like Sandoz (later Novartis), Janssen, and Schering-Plough. Pivotal projects, including building Janssen Research Foundation’s R&D leadership, addressing leadership challenges for Schering-Plough while under Consent Decree, and Dow Corning’s chaotic years of the breast implant crisis, reinforced Bench’s critical role in the evolving landscape of life sciences.
From the late 1990s to today, Bench has remained at the forefront of the executive search industry, shaping organizations in the wake of mergers and acquisitions and guiding teams through periods of significant transition. The unwavering commitment to diversity became evident as Bench, in conjunction with Johnson and Johnson, pioneered balancing gender leadership representation in R&D, commercial, and operating roles.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth
From its earliest days, Bench International faced financial and gender hurdles with the complexities of operating in a male-dominated industry. Yet, by transforming agility into an art form, Bench turned each challenge into an opportunity. “Our strength is the pivot. The relationships we build help us understand the market,” says Natasha Allen, Global Senior Vice President and UK & Europe Region Head. This adaptability not only allowed Bench to respond to industry shifts, but to anticipate them, earning the word “partner,” spanning pharmaceutical giants to emerging biotech companies.
A prime example of this adaptability is the story of Engrail Therapeutics, founded by Dr. Vikram Sudarsan. Bench’s CEO, DeeDee DeMan, met with Dr. Sudarsan at a local coffee house, where together, they sketched the foundational structure of Engrail’s leadership team on a napkin. This spontaneous yet strategic brainstorming session laid the groundwork for Engrail’s future, with Bench supporting the placements of the Chief Development Officer and Chief Scientific Officer who would propel Engrail’s scientific vision.
Reflecting on this experience, DeeDee explains, “The secret to a successful pivot lies in our ability to flex within a continuum—working with industry giants one day and helping build a new company from the ground up over coffee the next.” Bench’s strength lies not only in responding to the needs of the moment but in cultivating a vision for where those needs are headed. This proactive approach, paired with Bench’s strong industry relationships, allows them to build leadership teams uniquely tailored to each client’s goals and stage of growth.
Bench’s resilience during multiple disruptions, including the 2008 financial crisis, biotech funding cycles, and the COVID-19 pandemic, further underscores its enduring agility. Chris Giffin, President & Chief Operating Officer, reflects on these times: “Our ability to pivot quickly, combined with the strong relationships we’ve built within the industry, has been key to our success,” he explains. Bench’s internal culture of agility and collaboration enabled the firm to not only navigate external challenges but also strengthen its own team, ensuring that Bench remained a trusted partner for clients both established and emerging.
Milestones: Shaping the Industry
Over the years, Bench has been instrumental in placing top executives at life sciences and biotech organizations, driving innovation and growth. For example, Bench’s close partnership with NPS Pharmaceuticals at a time when the company was teetering on the edge of collapse, Bench delivered their transformative CEO who became BioNJ’s 2013 Recipient of the Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation, and Leadership, as well as becoming one of New Jersey’s top 100 places to work. This led to its $5 billion acquisition by Shire. This pivotal intervention reflects Bench’s unmatched ability to align leadership talent with company needs, creating lasting impact both for clients and ultimately, patients.
Diversity: A Cornerstone of Bench’s Mission
In all of Bench’s 50-year life span, the firm has stood for its unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all elements of executive recruitment, beginning decades before the term, ‘DEI’ became a part of industry vocabulary. Bench’s pioneering tenacity has been instrumental in reshaping the industry, ensuring that leadership better reflects the diversity of its workforce and the patient populations it serves. To codify this, Bench created, The Bank of Women®, comprising a platform of over 1,770+ board and C-Suite-ready women, many being dual diverse. This has led to nearly half of all assignments Bench has taken on being completed with women. In its current chapter, Bench has gone further, creating, The Bank of Inclusion™, which broadens this focus to underrepresented groups, allowing Bench to continually maintain one-half of Bench’s placements involving diverse candidates.
ROI for clients is mission critical to Bench International. Notably, 75% of these leaders have remained in their roles for over five years, demonstrating the lasting impact of Bench’s DEI efforts.
Giving back to the community is foundational to Bench and this plays out through its involvement in non-profit, community-based actions. Bench’s involvement with initiatives such as Life Science Cares (LSC), where Bench’s Senior Vice President Linda Sierra, serves on the Project Onramp National Board, and where Bench serves as an LSC national sponsor, as well as actively supporting other programs for at-risk teens, such as SD2. These programs are committed to uplifting underserved communities and foster growth in the life sciences sector.
Ashley Finney, Senior Vice President of recruitment, reflecting on her role in placing Mammogen’s CEO, shares: “This search was incredibly personal to me, given my family history with breast cancer. I’m proud that Bench placed a female CEO who continues to champion women’s health initiatives.” Mammogen is a clinical stage diagnostic company with an initial focus on the early detection of breast cancer, where DeeDee DeMan committed to providing ‘first money in’ to build the company and serves on its board today.
The Road Ahead: Preparing for the Future
As Bench looks to the future, DeeDee acknowledges the vulnerability and challenges the life sciences industry faces, with many companies formed during the last decade struggling to meet milestones and secure the funding necessary to get their products to a successful endpoint. However, Bench’s ability to leverage deep industry relationships ensures that even the most fragile companies will have a fighting chance to play a pivotal role in getting their assets into the hands of prescribers and patients.
DeeDee believes Bench is an essential component in ensuring companies survive and thrive. “The reality of our current generation requires our client partners to be relentless and creative in securing the right people, in the right roles, to ensure the funding necessary to be able to thrive, and this is a commitment and responsibility we will never shirk.”
For 50 years, Bench International has been a beacon of resilience, adaptability, and excellence. From its roots with a Rolodex, a rotary phone, and one file cabinet, to creating a global team and global practice, Bench will continue to lead with integrity and passion, ensuring both client partners and candidates thrive in the success they deserve.
