Case Study

Strategic VP of Product search for Körber Pharma Software

VP of Product

Days to Fill

90 days

Roles Filled

“

Finding VP-level product leaders for pharma MES requires mapping the entire European MES and adjacent software landscape, including LIMS, QMS, and ERP vendors. MITREC placed a VP of Product for Körber Pharma Software right first time within three months by assessing candidates on GxP regulatory credibility, product strategy thinking, and competitive awareness.

Challenge

Solution

Results

The Challenge

Körber Pharma Software needed a VP of Product to lead the strategic direction of their MES platform serving GxP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturers across Europe. The previous leader had departed, leaving a gap in product vision at a time when the competitive landscape was intensifying. The role required a rare blend of deep pharmaceutical manufacturing domain knowledge, enterprise software product leadership experience, and the credibility to influence both technical teams and C-suite stakeholders across multiple European markets.

MITREC was retained to conduct a pan-European search for a VP of Product with direct experience leading product strategy for MES or adjacent enterprise software in regulated manufacturing. The candidate needed to understand GxP validation, pharmaceutical production workflows, and the commercial dynamics of enterprise software in this space. Crucially, they needed the leadership presence to align engineering, sales, and customer success teams around a coherent product roadmap.

The Solution

We conducted an exhaustive mapping exercise across every MES and pharmaceutical software vendor operating in Europe, identifying product leaders at all levels from Director to C-suite. Our research extended to adjacent domains including LIMS, QMS, and ERP vendors serving pharma, ensuring we captured candidates with transferable domain expertise. Each candidate was assessed not only on their product management track record but on their understanding of GxP regulatory requirements and their ability to translate complex technical capabilities into commercially compelling product strategies.

The Results

We delivered a shortlist of exceptional VP-calibre product leaders, each bringing the precise combination of pharmaceutical MES domain knowledge, enterprise product leadership, and pan-European operating experience that Körber required. The successful candidate was appointed and has since driven significant product innovation and competitive differentiation for Körber Pharma Software. The search was completed right first time, with no re-work or extended timelines.

“

MITREC delivered exactly what we needed: a shortlist of genuinely qualified product leaders who understood pharmaceutical manufacturing software at a deep level. The search was thorough, the candidates were exceptional, and the process was seamless. We made the right hire, first time.

Jens Woehlbier

CEO, Körber Pharma Software

Frequently asked questions

Why was this VP of Product search particularly challenging?

The intersection of VP-level product leadership, pharmaceutical MES domain expertise, and pan-European experience is exceptionally narrow. There are perhaps a few hundred people globally who genuinely qualify, and most are well-compensated and not actively looking. This required proactive, research-led headhunting rather than advertising.

How did MITREC approach the pan-European scope of this search?

We mapped product leaders across every relevant MES and pharmaceutical software company operating in Europe, regardless of their current location. Our research covered the UK, DACH region, Nordics, Benelux, and Southern Europe. Understanding the nuances of pharmaceutical manufacturing regulation across these markets was essential to identifying candidates with genuinely transferable expertise.

What does "right first time" mean in practice?

It means we delivered a shortlist that met every requirement in the brief on the first attempt. There was no need to go back to market, adjust the specification, or present additional rounds of candidates. Korber was able to select and appoint from our initial shortlist, saving months compared to a typical iterative search process.

Did the search consider candidates from outside the MES space?

Yes, deliberately. We mapped product leaders in adjacent pharmaceutical software categories including LIMS, QMS, electronic batch records, and serialisation platforms. Several strong candidates came from these adjacent domains, bringing fresh perspective while still possessing the regulatory knowledge and enterprise software experience the role demanded.

How long did the search take from mandate to placement?

The search was completed within three months from the signed mandate to the candidate accepting the offer. Given the seniority and specificity of the role, this represented a significant time saving compared to industry averages for VP-level retained searches, which typically run four to six months.

What was the key differentiator in MITREC's approach?

Domain expertise. Our team understood the pharmaceutical MES market well enough to assess candidates' regulatory credibility, product strategy thinking, and competitive awareness in ways that generalist search firms could not. This meant every candidate on the shortlist was genuinely qualified, not just superficially plausible.

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