Case study

Global MedTech market leader, Head of Digital Health R&D

USA
A stethoscope rests on a digital tablet, symbolizing modern healthcare. In the background, a person types on a laptop, suggesting focus and technology.

THE CHALLENGE

Our client, a multi-billion-dollar medical device company, required a seasoned technology and engineering executive to spearhead their journey toward becoming a leader in Digital Health. This uniquely structured role carried direct responsibility for developing complex, next-generation solutions across hardware, software, data analytics, and AI.  

The Digital Health R&D leader was tasked with designing a connected device platform hardware architecture spanning all chronic care portfolios, building intuitive patient-centric web and mobile apps, and developing machine learning algorithms to enable personalized recommendations and automation. Because the organization was still in the early stages of building its strength in these areas, the role demanded both SME-level expertise across disciplines and the vision and leadership skills to build and inspire high-performing teams in uncharted territory.

THE SOLUTION

The key to success lay in identifying organizations with engineering structures that combined Electrical Engineering, Firmware, Software, and Analytics under a single leader. We uncovered strong candidate pools across three areas:  

  • Mid- to large-cap MedTech companies with device-centric R&D groups in chronic care, diagnostics, monitoring, or imaging.  
  • Pharma companies that had invested in internal device development, particularly those that created smart devices like inhalers or insulin pens.  
  • Small-cap and start-up MedTech firms that were digital-native or heavily invested in digital technologies, where senior R&D leaders blended technical depth with commercial acumen.  

We crafted a compelling messaging campaign to attract high-caliber talent despite the pandemic’s economic uncertainty and deployed a persistent outreach strategy. To ensure alignment, Miramar designed a tailored interview process assessing candidates’ technical mastery, ability to build and scale teams, and leadership in navigating highly complex, cross-disciplinary challenges.

THE RESULT

  • Over 100 qualified candidates identified across MedTech, Pharma, and HealthTech.  
  • A shortlist of 5 top-tier candidates delivered within 3 weeks.  
  • Within 90 days, the client secured a candidate with exceptional breadth—combining experience at one of the world’s leading medical equipment companies with time at a globally renowned AI and data science research lab.  

The appointment of the new Digital Health R&D leader accelerated the company’s evolution into a recognized innovator in connected health solutions. By unifying hardware, software, and AI efforts under a cohesive strategy, they established a scalable platform architecture that served as the foundation for multiple chronic care portfolios. Their leadership built confidence internally, attracting top engineering talent and creating a culture energized by collaboration and innovation.  

As a result, the client was able to shorten development cycles for digital solutions, increase adoption of patient-facing apps, and enhance personalization through advanced AI-driven insights. This positioned the company not only as a market leader in digital health but also as a trusted partner to patients and providers in delivering more connected, data-driven care.

The impact