Jake Vander Zanden
PARTNER, Executive Search
Jake Vander Zanden serves as a Partner and leader of McDermott + Bull’s Technology Life Sciences Practice.
Jake spent over 25 years as a turnaround and growth leader completing business transformations as a senior executive at companies like Allergan, Medtronic, and more. He has lived and worked throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, and managed businesses in all the major regions of the world. Jake’s success has come from his ability to quickly and continuously develop high performing teams and guide their achievement of company changing initiatives, regardless of country, language, culture, or product group.
Jake is an active member of the Life Sciences community and serves on the Leadership Board of DeviceAlliance™, as a Growth Services Advisor for OCTANe, and judge for the annual OCTANe High Technology Awards Program. He is an expert-in-residence at Applied Innovation and an MBA mentor for the Paul Merage School of Business, both at the University of California Irvine. Jake is also a reviewer for the NIH POP grant program for the University of California system. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and management from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Placement Announcements
Articles and Video Interviews

A Note for CEOs About DEI and Uncomfortable Conversations
I work with a lot of CEOs and executive leaders on a daily basis. One of the things that I, and many other senior executives, struggle with is confidently being a part of the conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Sometimes, I fear I may say or do...

Let’s Chat with Jake Vander Zanden
Check out McDermott + Bull Partner Jake Vander Zanden's series, Let's Chat, where he sits down with executive thought leaders to discuss topics that change culture and shift mindsets. Stay tuned for more to come! Let's Chat: Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion with...

McDermott + Bull Places Vice President of Talent, Sonendo, Inc.
McDermott + Bull has successfully placed Peter (Pete) Fisher as Vice President of Talent at Sonendo, Inc. Reporting to the Chief Talent Officer, Pete will play a key role in shaping the future of Sonendo as he oversees all aspects of talent acquisition. He will serve...

White Paper: Looking Ahead to 2022 and What Leaders Need to Know
As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, we are beginning to see a bright spot in the future of the life sciences industry and wider global economy.

The Future of a Hybrid Workforce
As we begin to re-enter a normalized version of the past 16 months, the transition from fully remote workforces to new working environments is nearly upon us.

What Independence Day Means to Me
On Independence Day, I’m reminded of so many men and women who have made incredible sacrifices to help keep our country free.

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