Membership
Acertitude Appoints New Partner and EMEA Lead for Global Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice
Acertitude today announced that Michael Klingler has joined as partner and EMEA lead for the firm’s global Healthcare and Life Sciences (HLS) practice.
Based out of Frankfurt, Germany, Michael will oversee Acertitude’s European HLS team and strategic client relationships as they deliver on executive search, leadership assessment, and private equity services across the pre- and post-deal phases. These are all areas in which Michael has in-depth expertise spanning hundreds of assignments and more than two decades as a trusted advisor.
“We are delighted to have someone of Michael’s calibre join to help develop our work across Healthcare and Life Sciences as Acertitude continues a strong global growth trajectory,” said Guy Barnes, Managing Partner. “It’s also great to reinforce our capability in one of our core markets – Germany – as well as Europe and North America more broadly. Michael’s strong entrepreneurial, strategic, and operational knowledge and passion for people are a great fit with the team and, together, we look to continue building Europe as we grow our distinctive culture and capability.”
Michael’s experience includes doing exactly that, having built leading Life Sciences and Healthcare boutique search firms across both sides of the Atlantic previously. He joins Acertitude from his role as CEO and owner of KPI Leadership Advisors, where he similarly served mid- and large-cap private equity funds dedicated to the healthcare and life sciences sector.
Prior, Michael was managing director of healthcare and life sciences and head of the DACH region for a PE-specialized executive search, leadership development, and deal advisory firm. He spent the three years before that as chief commercial officer and board member with another boutique, an international executive search and leadership development firm focused on the life sciences space, responsible for all commercial and strategic business activities.
Michael previously spent seventeen years building one of the leading global life sciences executive search boutiques, RSVP GROUP AG, as managing partner, co-owner, and board member. There, he built out the Americas market and, later, replicated his success in Asia. His remit spanned corporate strategy and operations to business development and recruiting, developing, and leading the team.
Michael spent his earlier career in strategy consulting and holds an MBA from the Bayerische Julius Maximilians Universität Würzburg.
“Joining this incredible, professional team and the firm’s bold ambition and clear commitment to growth in the DACH and EMEA regions is absolutely thrilling,” said Michael. “I’m excited for this unique opportunity to strengthen and grow one of our core industry practices and look forward to being a part of this ongoing success story in the industry.”
Added Michael, “With ongoing global complexity driving new leadership needs across the growing HLS market, we will bring a heightened focus on delivering those brilliant leaders who combine extensive industry experience with leadership, coaching, and governance knowledge. And, do so across areas we know exceptionally well – pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, health tech, health services, CDMO, and CRO industries.”
