The Chase Group
The Chase Group is a privately held boutique executive search firm founded in 1993 that specializes exclusively in placing C-suite, VP, and director-level leadership for life sciences organizations, leveraging a proprietary database of over 100,000 industry professionals and a 7-person team with 100+ years of combined experience.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Chase Group does
The Chase Group is a privately held, boutique executive search firm founded in 1993 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The company is singularly focused on the life sciences industry, providing retained executive search services to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and academic research organizations. Its core product is C-suite, VP, and director-level executive placement, executed through a retained engagement model with upfront retainers and success-based fees.
The firm's principal technical asset is a proprietary database of over 100,000 life sciences leaders, maintained with personal and professional insights accumulated over three decades of focused domain practice. This database enables access to passive candidates not actively seeking new roles. The company operates with a small team of seven core members — co-founders Karen Leathers (President) and Ken Allison (COO), a Vice President, and four project managers — combining 100+ years of collective executive search experience. Recent operational modernization includes AI-assisted workflow integration led by a designated internal "Chase.Bot" lead.
Revenue is generated exclusively through retained executive search engagements with life sciences organizations, ranging from emerging biotech startups to publicly traded pharmaceutical companies. The firm relies entirely on direct client engagement (no intermediaries, resellers, or distribution partners) and has built multi-year retained relationships with named clients including Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Akcea Therapeutics, Arcturus Therapeutics, Eisai, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, and Checkmate Pharmaceuticals. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains its boutique structure by explicit founder choice, prioritizing quality over scale.
The Chase Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Chase Group
- Legal name
- The Chase Group
- Website
- https://chasegroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Chase Group is a privately held boutique executive search firm founded in 1993 that specializes exclusively in placing C-suite, VP, and director-level leadership for life sciences organizations, leveraging a proprietary database of over 100,000 industry professionals and a 7-person team with 100+ years of combined experience.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Chase Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)
Keywords
Where The Chase Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Chase Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Services: Retained executive search services for life sciences organizations. The firm operates on a retained search model, charging fees for comprehensive executive placement services including candidate identification, assessment, and placement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retained Executive Search - Custom Engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Chase Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Chase Group provides retained executive search and recruiting services focused exclusively on the life sciences industry. The firm identifies, evaluates, and places senior leadership talent (C-suite, VP, director, and board roles) at biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic research, diagnostics, and medical device companies, using a proprietary database of more than 100,000 life sciences professionals to access passive candidates. Engagements are managed on a consultative, retained basis with personalized attention from the firm's partners.
Product overview
The Chase Group offers a single unified service: retained executive search and recruiting specifically for the life sciences industry. Their core offering is executive search services that leverage a proprietary database of over 100,000 life sciences professionals, with a team combining over 100 years of collective experience. They serve emerging biotech startups through publicly traded pharmaceutical companies, placing executives in roles spanning research and development, clinical, commercial, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, operations, finance, and corporate functions. The firm is structured as a boutique agency providing specialized, hands-on recruitment with services tailored for each client.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Life Sciences Executive Search Services Retained executive search and recruiting services placing senior leadership (C-suite, VP-level, and board members) within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic research, diagnostics, and medical device companies. The service leverages a proprietary database of over 100,000 life sciences professionals to identify and place candidates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully placed executives at major life sciences companies including Ionis, Ipsen, Arcturus, Akcea, Eisai, and many others
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Chase Group
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Chase Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Chase Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Arcturus TherapeuticscorePartnership retained in late 2022 to build out leadership team additions including Chief Medical Officer, VP Pulmonary and Rare Diseases Clinical Development, Head of Drug Safety, and vaccine development leadership. The Chase Group is supporting Arcturus's growth strategy in mRNA medicines.
- Akcea TherapeuticscoreOngoing retained search partnership with Akcea Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on serious and rare disorders. The Chase Group has completed multiple executive placements including Chief Medical Officer, SVP Global Medical Affairs, and SVP/CHRO. The relationship demonstrates repeat engagement over multiple years.
- Ionis PharmaceuticalscoreLong-standing partnership with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a leading RNA-targeted drug discovery and development company. The Chase Group has completed numerous placements including VP Drug Safety, VP Medical Affairs, Director Global HEOR, VP Clinical Development Respiratory, Associate Director Investor Relations, GCP QA leadership, and finance roles. Multiple searches over several years.
- Alexza PharmaceuticalscoreOngoing partnership with Alexza Pharmaceuticals to build clinical development and operations leadership. Multiple successful placements including VP Research and Development, Clinical Operations Leadership, and Head of Clinical Operations & GCP Compliance.
- Eisai Inc.majorPartnership with Eisai for executive recruitment across neuroscience and oncology. Successful placements include Director Clinical Research Neuroscience, Medical Director Epilepsy, and Senior Medical Director Global Oncology Business Unit.
- Ipsen BiopharmaceuticalscoreLongstanding partnership with Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals spanning multiple executive placements including VP Oncology Business Unit, VP Human Resources, VP Neurology Franchise Head, CNS and Oncology marketing leadership, and Corporate Communications Executive. Multiple searches completed including five placements in record time.
- Aeglea BiotherapeuticsmajorPartnership to build rare disease clinical development leadership team. Placements include VP Clinical Development Rare Disease and Global Program Lead Early Pipeline Programs.
- Checkmate PharmaceuticalsmajorBuilding on a 14+ year relationship, The Chase Group has placed VP Head of Regulatory Affairs and VP Head of Medical Development at Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Chase Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Life Sciences practice serving biotech, pharma, and medical device clients. Operates at much larger scale than The Chase Group but competes for the same retained life sciences executive mandates.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Healthcare and Life Sciences sector practice placing C-suite and board leaders. Competes with The Chase Group on retained biotech and pharma mandates, particularly at the executive director and C-suite levels.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large Life Sciences practice offering executive search, talent development, and RPO services. A scaled competitor across the same search mandates as The Chase Group, with broader service offerings.
- Spencer Stuart: Major global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a long-standing Healthcare and Life Sciences practice. Competes with The Chase Group for senior-level placements in pharma and biotech, but serves a broader cross-industry client base.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a Health practice serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology clients. Competes with The Chase Group on senior life sciences executive placements while operating a broader cross-industry model.
Direct peers
- Klein Hersh International: Boutique executive search firm focused exclusively on the life sciences industry, placing C-suite and senior leadership in biotech, pharma, and CRO organizations. Closest direct competitor to The Chase Group by sector focus, boutique size, and retained search model.
- Life Search Group: Executive search firm focused on life sciences placements across biotech, pharma, and medical device organizations. Comparable boutique competitor with similar vertical specialization and retained engagement model.
- Fairfield Resources: Boutique executive search firm specializing in life sciences recruitment, serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostics clients. A direct competitor to The Chase Group in retained life sciences executive search.
- Hartmann Willner: Boutique executive search firm specializing in life sciences and healthcare leadership placements. Direct competitor to The Chase Group in retained search for biotech and pharma C-suite and VP-level roles.
- BioBridges: Life sciences-focused executive search and recruiting firm placing executives and functional leaders in biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. Comparable to The Chase Group in vertical specialization and boutique operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Chase Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Chase Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Chase Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Chase Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Chase Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Chase Group
What does The Chase Group do?
The Chase Group provides retained executive search and recruiting services focused exclusively on the life sciences industry. The firm identifies, evaluates, and places senior leadership talent (C-suite, VP, director, and board roles) at biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic research, diagnostics, and medical device companies, using a proprietary database of more than 100,000 life sciences professionals to access passive candidates. Engagements are managed on a consultative, retained basis with personalized attention from the firm's partners.
Is The Chase Group a public or private company?
The Chase Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Chase Group founded?
The Chase Group was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Chase Group based?
The Chase Group is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Chase Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search Services.
Who are The Chase Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder. Direct peers are Klein Hersh International, Life Search Group, Fairfield Resources, Hartmann Willner and BioBridges.
Does The Chase Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Chase Group.
What industry is The Chase Group in?
The Chase Group's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAE, Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.