Executive Search

A retained executive search firm is hired exclusively by a company to fill a specific leadership role. Unlike contingency recruiters who are paid only if their candidate is hired, a retained firm is engaged on a contractual basis and works exclusively for the client. This means the firm conducts a thorough, confidential search, not a resume scatter. For the musculoskeletal industry, retained search matters because the candidate pool is small, relationships-driven, and highly specialized. The De Angelis Group operates on a retained-only basis and has done so exclusively in the MSK space since 2005.

A well-run retained executive search in the musculoskeletal industry typically takes 60 to 90 days from kickoff to accepted offer, assuming the client is responsive and aligned on the candidate profile. Searches for highly specialized roles, such as a Chief Executive Officer for a spine company or a VP of Regulatory Affairs, may take longer due to the narrow candidate universe.

Retained search fees are typically structured as a percentage of the placed executive's first-year total compensation, commonly 33 percent of the hire's first year's total cash compensation. The fee is usually structured in three installments: at engagement, at candidate presentation, and at offer acceptance. The cost of a failed or delayed hire, both in lost revenue and cultural damage, routinely exceeds the search fee many times over.

The most frequently placed roles include Chief Executive Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Marketing, Operating Officer, VP of Business Development, VP of Regulatory Affairs, Director of R&D, and Board Directors. The firm places leaders at every organizational level from the C-suite to director, across all segments of the musculoskeletal industry including orthopedics, spine, regenerative biologics, sports medicine, robotics, neuromodulation, trauma, and digital health.

Three things set us apart. First, we work exclusively in the musculoskeletal industry — our entire network and every relationship we have built over 25 years is MSK-specific. Second, we are retained-only. We do not work on contingency, ever. Third, our founder Drue De Angelis spent his early career at Zimmer and Stryker, which means he understands the commercial dynamics, the culture, and the candidate characteristics that actually produce results in this industry.

Yes. A significant portion of our client base is early-stage and VC/PE-backed musculoskeletal companies. We understand the constraints of startups, including equity-heavy compensation structures, the need for leaders who can operate without a large team, and the importance of finding people who have been to that stage before. Our experience working with VC and PE sponsors at Arsenal Capital Partners, LongueVue Capital, and others gives us direct insight into what investors expect from executive hires at each stage of growth.