The Carolan Group
The Carolan Group is a Montville, NJ-based executive search firm founded in 2002 that recruits Medical Science Liaisons and Medical Affairs professionals for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, offering direct hire, contract-to-hire, outsourced MSL teams, and RPO services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMontville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Carolan Group does
The Carolan Group is a Montville, New Jersey-based executive search firm founded in 2002 by Tom Caravela that operates exclusively in the Medical Affairs recruitment vertical. The firm recruits Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), Field Medical Directors, MSL Managers, and Medical Affairs leadership for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, serving clients ranging from small startup biotech (e.g., VAYA Pharma) to global pharmaceutical leaders (e.g., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Insmed). The core operational asset is a proprietary candidate database described as 'cutting-edge' that maintains pre-qualified, pre-screened MSL profiles nationwide across therapeutic areas, supporting a passive candidate network beyond active job-seekers.
The company monetizes through three primary service models. First, traditional contingency and retained executive search for individual MSL placements and senior Medical Affairs roles. Second, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) for multi-hire MSL team builds and field medical expansions. Third, outsourced turnkey MSL team deployments, in which The Carolan Group provides the full MSL team plus management, KOL mapping, training, compliance, reporting, and operational support under managed-service contracts. Contract-to-Hire staffing is offered as a hybrid option. Go-to-market is exclusively direct B2B engagement with hiring managers and talent acquisition leaders at client organizations, with no digital or indirect distribution channels.
The firm is founder-owned and managed, with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company. It operates with a team of approximately 10 professionals, including the founder/Managing Partner, a Director of Client Services, a Director of Recruiting Operations, four Executive Medical Affairs Recruiters, two Sourcers/Researchers, and a Recruiting Coordinator. Supporting the recruiting business is the MSL Talk podcast, an industry content platform hosted by Tom Caravela that has produced 300+ episodes and reached 200,000+ listeners across 50+ countries, serving as a top-of-funnel brand and thought-leadership asset for the recruitment practice.
The Carolan Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Carolan Group
- Legal name
- The Carolan Group
- Website
- https://carolangroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Carolan Group is a Montville, NJ-based executive search firm founded in 2002 that recruits Medical Science Liaisons and Medical Affairs professionals for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, offering direct hire, contract-to-hire, outsourced MSL teams, and RPO services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Carolan Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search & Recruitment 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
- Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing (BPACADAL), Medical Affairs, Scientific Communications & HEOR FSP (HLAGAOAG)
Keywords
Where The Carolan Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Carolan 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
- Contingency and Retained Search Services: Traditional contingency-based recruiting where the firm is paid upon successful placement of a candidate. Also offers retained search services for more specialized or senior-level searches.
- Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO): Full-service recruitment process outsourcing for MSL team builds and multiple hire expansions.
- Outsourced Field Medical Teams: Provides complete turnkey solutions including MSL teams, management, KOL mapping, training, compliance, reporting, and operational support for rapid deployment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Carolan Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Carolan Group is a specialized executive search and staffing firm focused exclusively on Medical Affairs recruitment for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. The firm recruits and places Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), Field Medical Directors, MSL Managers, and in-house Medical Affairs leadership via three primary engagement models: direct hire placements, outsourced turnkey MSL teams with full management and operational support, and contract-to-hire staffing. With over 20 years of Medical Affairs-specific recruiting experience and a proprietary pre-qualified candidate database, the firm supports clients ranging from startup biotech to global pharmaceutical companies.
Product overview
The Carolan Group is a Medical Affairs Executive Search firm offering a unified portfolio of recruitment services centered on placing Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs professionals within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. The core offering consists of three primary staffing models: Direct Hire MSL Recruitment for permanent placements, Outsourced MSL Teams providing turnkey deployment with management and operational support, and Contract to Hire arrangements for flexible conversion. Supporting the recruitment services is the MSL Talk Podcast, an educational content platform featuring industry insights, career guidance, and interview preparation for MSLs and Medical Affairs professionals. The company operates exclusively in the Medical Affairs recruitment vertical, serving clients from startup biotech to global pharmaceutical companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MSL Talk: A podcast hosted by Tom Caravela featuring insights for Medical Science Liaisons, aspiring MSLs, and Medical Affairs leaders. Topics include Medical Affairs trends, recruitment strategies, job search advice, and industry discussions.
Products and services
- Medical Affairs Executive Search Services Executive recruitment and placement services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, specializing in Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), Field Medical Directors, MSL Managers, and in-house Medical Affairs leadership positions at various senior levels.
- Direct Hire MSL Recruitment Cost-effective plan to recruit, onboard, and assist in training Medical Science Liaisons for direct hire, ranging from one MSL to complete MSL teams nationwide with therapeutic specificity.
- Outsourced MSL Teams Complete turnkey solution providing flexible terms for a nationwide team of MSLs and management for rapid deployment, including full lifecycle recruitment, onboarding, MSL management, KOL mapping, training, compliance, reporting, metrics, and operational support.
- Contract to Hire MSL Staffing Option to convert contract MSLs to direct hire employees based upon tenure and time of conversion, providing flexibility for organizations evaluating candidates before permanent hire.
- MSL Talk Podcast Educational podcast hosted by Tom Caravela featuring insights for Medical Science Liaisons, aspiring MSLs, and Medical Affairs leaders, covering Medical Affairs trends, recruitment strategies, job seeker advice, industry news, and interview guidance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced time-to-hire for MSL positions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Carolan Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Carolan 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 Carolan Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Carolan Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Carolan Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Carolan Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Carolan Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Carolan Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Carolan 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 Carolan Group
What does The Carolan Group do?
The Carolan Group is a specialized executive search and staffing firm focused exclusively on Medical Affairs recruitment for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. The firm recruits and places Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), Field Medical Directors, MSL Managers, and in-house Medical Affairs leadership via three primary engagement models: direct hire placements, outsourced turnkey MSL teams with full management and operational support, and contract-to-hire staffing. With over 20 years of Medical Affairs-specific recruiting experience and a proprietary pre-qualified candidate database, the firm supports clients ranging from startup biotech to global pharmaceutical companies.
Is The Carolan Group a public or private company?
The Carolan Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Carolan Group founded?
The Carolan Group was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Carolan Group based?
The Carolan Group is headquartered in Montville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Carolan Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Contingency and Retained Search Services are the primary driver. The others are recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and outsourced Field Medical Teams.
Does The Carolan Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Carolan Group.
What industry is The Carolan Group in?
The Carolan Group's product category is Executive Search & Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAE, Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACADAL, Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.