Summary
A leading international pharmaceutical group is seeking a Head of Mergers & Acquisitions to drive its inorganic growth strategy across Europe and selected international markets.
This is a high-impact leadership role focused on identifying, evaluating and executing acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures and product portfolio transactions across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. The successful candidate will play a key role in expanding the organisation's footprint, supporting both the core generics business and wider healthcare interests.
The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of end-to-end M&A execution within the pharmaceutical industry, with particular preference given to candidates from generics or off-patent medicine environments. Whilst sector experience is important, the ability to successfully originate, negotiate, execute and integrate transactions is considered the most critical success factor.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the organisation's M&A and corporate development strategy in line with global growth objectives.
- Identify, evaluate and prioritise acquisition, licensing, joint venture and strategic partnership opportunities.
- Lead end-to-end transaction processes including target identification, valuation, due diligence, negotiation, execution and integration.
- Assess opportunities involving companies, product portfolios, brands and marketing authorisations.
- Build and maintain financial models, business cases and investment recommendations for executive leadership.
- Lead cross-functional deal teams involving finance, legal, regulatory, commercial and operational stakeholders.
- Manage relationships with external advisers, investment banks, consultants and transaction counterparties.
- Support expansion into existing and new European markets through inorganic growth initiatives.
- Evaluate opportunities across both the core pharmaceutical business and wider healthcare-related group companies.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity and emerging strategic opportunities.
- Present investment opportunities and recommendations to senior leadership and board-level stakeholders.
- Support post-acquisition integration planning and execution to ensure value realisation.
Requirements
- Minimum 10+ years' experience in M&A, corporate development, investment, strategic partnerships or related transaction-focused roles.
- Demonstrated track record of leading and executing end-to-end transactions from origination through to completion.
- Proven experience within the pharmaceutical industry; generics or off-patent medicines experience strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of European pharmaceutical markets and commercial dynamics.
- Experience evaluating acquisitions, product transactions, licensing opportunities and strategic partnerships.
- Strong financial modelling, valuation, due diligence and negotiation capabilities.
- Experience managing complex cross-border transactions.
- Ability to work effectively across multiple functions including finance, legal, regulatory and commercial teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills.
- Entrepreneurial, commercially minded and execution-focused approach.
- Experience across Europe is essential; exposure to MENA markets would be advantageous but is not required.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Law or a related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
- EU citizenship required.
- Must be based in the Netherlands or willing to relocate to the Netherlands without sponsorship.
Non-Negotiables
- Proven end-to-end M&A execution experience.
- Demonstrable track record of successfully completed transactions.
- Pharmaceutical industry experience.
- Ability to operate within a highly international, cross-border environment.
- Eligibility to live and work in the Netherlands without sponsorship.
To Apply
- gjohnstone@barringtonjames.com
- +441293778666
