Leadership
We are led by proven senior executives with 100+ years of combined experience in the life sciences industry.
Carolyn Durham
President
As Chief Operating Officer, Carolyn Durham is responsible for the global operations of the company. Carolyn brings over 19 years of operational excellence to her role and has a deep knowledge of multi-level organizational structures, having helped lead both Fortune 500 companies and startups to success. Her experience and leadership have been focused on developing and driving operational efficiencies on a global scale, providing strategies and incentives to accelerate revenue growth and implementing technology-driven business services.
During her career, she has overseen the integration activities of 10+ M&As and worked closely with private equity firms and investors. She’s an expert at scaling businesses, evaluating, modifying and streamlining processes and standardizing procedures.
Throughout her career, Carolyn's experience has encompassed sales, recruitment, business development, commercial operations and project management – primarily focused in the life sciences sector. Prior to Planet, she was with Delta Pharma, which was acquired by Randstad Life Sciences and Kelly Services.
Carolyn has a Bachelor’s degree in communication and culture with a minor in business and sociology from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Spencer Cricks
Senior Director of Recruitment, EMEA
Spencer Cricks is responsible for overseeing the Recruitment Team for Planet Pharma EMEA. Spencer graduated from the University of Manchester and has spent 10+ years working within the staffing industry supporting Pharma and Biotechnology clients throughout EMEA and the US. Having spent time working within an executive search business previously, Spencer has led senior level recruitment processes globally and enjoys building long lasting relationships with clients and candidates alike.
Adam Jacobson
Senior Director of Recruitment
As a Senior Director of Recruitment, Adam Jacobson is responsible for managing the consultant staffing and direct hire platform for Planet Pharma’s East Coast delivery team. Adam is a graduate of Western Illinois University, with a degree in Business Management, and has been involved in the clinical staffing industry for more than 20 years, specifically focused within R&D Life Sciences. Adam brings expert knowledge in the clinical staffing space and possesses the leadership qualities to deliver for both consultants and client partners worldwide.
Frank Sloan
Senior Director of Recruitment
Frank Sloan brings more than 10 years of experience specific to consultant and direct hire recruitment within the Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotechnology industries. As a Senior Director of Recruitment, he plays a key role in building and managing recruitment teams nationwide with a focus in Pharmacovigilance, Medical Writing, R&D IT, Biometrics, and Regulatory Affairs. Frank believes in a delivery platform centered on customer service, ensuring the highest satisfaction for both consultants and clients. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University.
Lloyd Cobb
Senior Vice President, EMEA & APAC
Lloyd Cobb leads Planet Pharma across the EMEA and APAC regions and has responsibility for providing operational oversight and strategic direction. He has worked in global staffing, outsourcing and vendor partnership for over a decade providing innovative staffing solutions across the full gamut within the Life Science space linked to Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, CRO and Biotechnology organizations.
Lloyd's experience includes providing solution orientated business development initiatives, account management, FSP solutions, outsourcing, project and team management.
Since earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Sports and Exercise Sciences at the University of Gloucestershire, Lloyd has specialized in both project and team build-outs across SME and multi-national environments, focusing on strategic and innovative resourcing solutions to help clients achieve optimal business objectives.
Tim Bauwens
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Bauwens is the CFO of The Planet Group of Companies and is responsible for accounting and reporting, financial planning, cash management, human resources, and risk management. He has over 25 years of corporate accounting and finance experience, having spent the early part of his career focused on mergers & acquisitions, mostly in the service and utilities sectors. Tim has spent the last ten years in the professional services and construction industries working with publicly traded and privately held companies with an emphasis on accelerated topline growth, improved cashflow, and maximizing return on investment. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Augustana College and holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
Don Kraus
Vice President
Don Kraus brings over 20 years of experience in the recruitment and talent acquisition industry. Specifically, Don has worked in business development, management and leadership roles. His experience has allowed him to support many different business models including, but not limited to, RPO, MSP and strategic recruitment solutions within the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Diagnostic, CRO and Medical Device industries. Don has developed client partnerships globally, but the majority of his focus recently has been growing and supporting clients located in the Western United States.
Nick Demling
President
Nick Demling offers 25+ years in Clinical Trials Resource Management, Business Development – Consulting / Project Teams, Staff Augmentation, FSPs, and Outsourcing. Nick has expertise in Global Workforce optimization solutions across multiple areas of clinical research to the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device, and CRO industries. He provides a lead role in business development and client management, working with managers and on-site vendors within the industry to meet their needs for staffing solutions.
Among Nick's specialties: Deep-rooted relationships in the pharmaceutical / medical device / CRO industries, strategic planning, business development, resource management, business re-engineering, P&L management, acquisitions & divestitures. He's intelligent, cost conscious, innovative, and a natural problem solver, all of which lend tremendous expertise when working with international clinical trials focused on helping patients live longer, healthier lives.
Ryan Gayan
Sr. Vice President
Ryan Gayan has 20 years of global resourcing experience within the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Ryan specializes in providing total workforce solutions to life science clients with high attention to quality, delivery, and customer service. He has worked extensively with clients to provide customized solutions and understands the importance of speed, quality, cost, and delivery.
Ryan's expertise includes: contingent and permanent staffing, vendor on premise / RPO as well as FSP and strategic outsourced resourcing services. Ryan offers a consultative, knowledgeable approach to Planet Pharma clientele and has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Andre Lozier
Vice President
Andre Lozier has been working in the Consulting, Solutions, and Staff Augmentation industries for over 15 years. His focus has always been in the life sciences sector, with the past 10 years focused specifically in clinical trial resourcing. He has been a part of building teams for Medical Writing, QA (GxP), SAS and Biostatistics, Data Management, CRAs, Project Management, and Study Management. Andre takes pride in understanding his customers business and adding value with out of the box thinking and creativity.
Dane Yarnell
Vice President, Recruitment
As the Vice President of Recruitment for Planet Pharma, Dane Yarnell is responsible for the global consultant and direct hire delivery platform. Dane is a graduate of Northwood University with a degree in Advertising along with nearly 20 years of experience in staffing specific to research and development within Pharma, Medical Device, and Biotechnology. Dane possesses an expert knowledge of this market, along with the experience necessary to deliver quality opportunities to our consultants and the best resources to our clients. With strategic oversight and tactical management to the strongest recruitment team on a global level, Planet Pharma is a true game-changer for our consultants and clients.
Emma Morris
President, PPG Advisory Partners
Emma Morris has 15 years of global staffing and consulting solutions experience. Her career spans multiple geographies and incorporates commercial and operational strategy in addition to sales leadership and client services for retained executive search, and global recruiting projects within the Life Sciences space. Having joined Planet Pharma in 2014, she is now President of PPG Advisory Partners where she provides strategic, scalable, and tailored executive search solutions, expert consulting services, and interim financial executives and support teams to our Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device clients globally. Emma is committed to a high touch approach, ensuring people and passion remain at the forefront of every project.
Rebecca Pesavento
Associate Director, Recruitment
Rebecca Pesavento brings over 7 years of experience in the recruiting space, most of which has been focused in the Life Sciences sector. As an Associate Director of Recruitment, she is primarily responsible for staffing contract and permanent employees in Project Management, Pharmacovigilance, and Medical Writing capacities across the US. When it comes to recruitment, Rebecca emphasizes a positive and tailored candidate experience and ensures a mutually strong fit between her candidates and clients.
In addition to recruiting, Rebecca is responsible for overseeing the Downtown Chicago recruitment teams and is an active member in The Planet Group's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Rebecca completed her Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications and Spanish from Indiana University Bloomington.
Jesse Norton
Senior Director, Finance & Accounting Consulting
Jesse Norton leads the Finance & Accounting Consulting Solutions for PPG Advisory Partners, part of Planet Pharma. Jesse offers over 15 years' recruitment and client partnership experience within the US and internationally. A former accountant with a BS in Accounting from Graceland University, he has primarily specialized in Finance and Accounting with the most recent five years focused within the Life Science industry.
As a Sr. Director of PPG Advisory Partners, his role is to partner and advise companies within the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Diagnostic and Medical Device industries, providing interim and consultative Finance and Accounting Executives to support growth and sustainability, and to complete strategic business initiatives.
Natalie Starrenburg
Account Management Team Lead
As the Account Management Team Lead for Planet Pharma, Natalie Starrenburg oversees a team AMs responsible for client support and account growth. With over five years of experience in the Account Management / Client Services space, Natalie works with hiring managers and onsite vendors in the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Diagnostic, CRO, and Medical Device industries to ensure their needs are met. She excels in strong customer service, quality, and transparency, and is known for her relationship building.
Natalie has a Bachelor's degree from Illinois State University where she majored in Interpersonal Communication and Organizational Leadership.
Molly Meyer
Account Management Team Lead
Molly Meyer is an Account Management Team Lead for Planet Pharma and oversees a group of AMs responsible for creating, fostering, and developing relationships with hiring managers of pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology clients across the country. She has more than six years of client services expertise and works with organizations of all sizes to ensure their life sciences talent needs are met. Molly knows account success is built on trust and excels at creating strong partnerships with her external clients and internal team.
Prior to her current role, Molly was a Recruiter with Planet Pharma and worked directly with clients and job search candidates to match top talent with prime opportunities. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
