StealthMode Growth Partners

Executive search

for life sciences & health technology

Finding leaders who scale science and technology for impact.

Start a conversation Explore our services

Iain Hopper, Founding Partner

i.hopper@stealthmodegp.com

07523 381 006

Track record

A decade of senior appointments

More than a decade of experience placing Board, C-suite and VP-level leaders in VC/PE backed businesses across Research Tools, HealthTech, TechBio, Pharma Services & Biotech.

Clients acquired or IPO'd

C-suite & Board hires

85%

Repeat client engagement

96%

12-month retention rate

20+

VC/PE referred clients

£1.7B+

Capital raised by clients

Approach

What sets us apart

A single, senior pair of hands on every search – with the reach, judgement and investor network of a much larger firm.

Founder-led delivery

The person you brief is the person who runs the search, from first conversation through to placement. Seasoned judgement, faster decisions, and real accountability.

Early stage & growth specialists

Exclusive focus on VC-backed start-ups and PE-backed scale-ups, connecting founder-investor boards with scale-up-ready leaders.

Single point of contact

One trusted advisor manages both client and candidate communications end-to-end. Zero message drift, streamlined updates and a superior candidate experience.

Unrestricted reach

Large firms are contractually blocked from approaching talent inside their own client base. Our off-limits list is short, so the market stays open to you.

Beyond hiring

Introductions that go beyond the hire – to investors, advisors and service providers who can accelerate growth.

Have a role in mind? Talk to us about a search

Core services

Engagement models that flex

One size never fits all. Flexible, tailored services that move with your organisation.

StealthMode:

Retained Search

Structured, milestone driven search for clearly defined briefs. Delivers a thorough, methodical process with fixed stages from research to shortlist and placement.

StealthMode:

Agile Retained

Fast, flexible search for when the brief is evolving. Combines retained commitment with rapid delivery and the ability to pivot as needs change.

StealthMode:

Fractional Search

Flexible executive talent solutions, delivering senior leadership on a part-time or interim basis to meet immediate growth and operational needs.

StealthMode:

HR Consulting

Onboarding, policy & procedure buildout, and people strategy advisory delivered by senior-level HR leaders.

StealthMode:

Investor Hub

Access to a curated network of corporate, PE, VC and angel investors matched to your funding thesis.

Selected searches

Recent appointments

Two recent examples – the brief, the approach, and what the client said afterwards.

Nuclera

VP Product

Sector: Life sciences & biotech
Scope: UK & US
Outcome: Appointed, US-based

A VP Product for a critical stage of commercialisation, needing a rare combination of deep protein science and proven commercial product ownership. With operations in Cambridge and Boston, we mapped senior product leaders systematically across both markets, so the leadership team saw the whole field before deciding.

“This was a particularly challenging role we had struggled to fill directly. His proactive, diligent approach, strong market insight, and candid perspective on the nuances of the brief were invaluable.”
Charu Maini, SVP People, Nuclera

Zonova

Fractional Chief Commercial Officer

Sector: MedTech
Scope: UK
Outcome: Appointed

Zonova needed a fractional CCO with a track record of closing medical device licensing deals, to bring pace to partnership discussions already under way. Having explored the market themselves, the leadership team wanted focus, structure and a clear view of the available talent.

“The process was focused and delivered fast results – I'm extremely pleased with the outcome.”
Founding Chief Executive Officer, Zonova

From the candidate side

“From the first LinkedIn message to the day I started at Nuclera and beyond, Iain has been a pleasure to work with. I really appreciated his transparent and honest communication style.”
Stacey Willard, VP Product, Nuclera

“I’ve known Iain for almost a decade and have worked with him previously – he supported me in securing my last CEO role – a 7-year assignment. When he approached me about this opportunity, I had no hesitation – the role, team, and culture have all delivered exactly as expected.”
Chief Commercial Officer (Fractional), Zonova

Team

Who you work with

Founder-led delivery, with operational rigour behind it.

Iain Hopper

Founding Partner

Executive search professional with over a decade of experience in life sciences and health technology. Proven track record partnering with global organisations, PE-backed growth companies, and VC-funded start-ups spanning Research Tools & Instruments, HealthTech, TechBio, Pharma Services, and Biotech.

Extensive experience executing searches across the UK, Europe, USA, and APAC. Deep sector knowledge and a global network built through senior positions at leading international executive search firms. Expertise in placing transformative leaders at critical growth inflection points.

Hands-on, relationship-driven approach. Personally manages every engagement from brief through to placement and beyond. Investor network and commercial acumen add value well beyond the immediate search mandate.

Amy Fossett

Head of Operations

Seasoned People & Operations leader with in-house talent acquisition experience across high-growth technology, healthcare, and professional services. Skilled in creating scalable systems and procedures that support rapid company growth and operational efficiency.

Oversees end-to-end search operations at StealthMode, ensuring every engagement runs smoothly from initiation through candidate onboarding. Background in people operations brings a unique in-house perspective to executive search, including a firsthand view of what hiring managers and HR teams need.

Operational rigour underpins StealthMode's consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Clients

Trusted by

We've had the privilege of partnering with leading life sciences and health technology companies across the globe. Our clients range from early-stage VC-backed startups to established PE-backed growth companies.

Get in touch

Ready to find your next leader?

Let's discuss how we can help you build a world-class team.

Email Iain

Email i.hopper@stealthmodegp.com Telephone 07523 381 006

Coverage UK · Europe · USA · APAC