Leadership Team

Mark Gold – Founder and CEO
As one of the pioneers in clinical development and regulatory executive search, Mark founded Gold Partners more than 25 years ago. The firm today is a leading pharmaceutical executive search and consulting firm in the United States. The firm’s success relies on its specialized focus – working exclusively in clinical development and regulatory affairs for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Mark and his colleagues have successfully placed more than 250 senior executives, researchers, clinical investigators and related medical staff. Mark has a BA in English from Syracuse University, and an MS and ABD from SUNY. He also taught at SUNY, focusing on the Psychology of Reading and Learning Theory and Behavior Assessment. Mark is the recipient of the coveted Outstanding Research Award from the Educational Research Institute Clearinghouse (ERIC) System.

Larry Bell M.D. – President and Chief Medical Officer
With more than 20 years of senior-level industry experience across all phases of clinical and regulatory development, including clinical-regulatory-business interface and regulatory agency interactions, Larry leads our Regulatory, Safety, Quality and Risk Management practice. He has experience across a broad range of therapeutic areas in small molecules, biologics and devices, providing a thorough understanding of critical success factors of product development and approvals. Larry’s expertise is in linking clinical development, labeling, regulatory and pharmacovigilance strategies to optimize successful regulatory submissions, reviews and approvals. Larry has held senior-level industry positions including Global Head of Regulatory, Safety & Pharmacovigilance at Aventis, Amgen and GE Healthcare, and executive positions at Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute (BMSPRI). He previously represented the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) as a member of the Regulatory Affairs Coordinating Committee (RACC). Larry remains an active consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, is involved in several charitable organizations and is a board member of Kid’s Peace International.

Bryan Shea – SVP and COO
Bryan heads the operations of Gold Partners and has been involved in the executive search industry since 1994. Since 1998, his only focus has been on searches in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He also has experience in serving the basic chemical, pharmaceutical ingredients, precious metal and publishing industries. Within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Bryan has placed physicians at all levels, ranging from Associate Director through Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer across all therapeutic areas. Other placements have included basic science, toxicology/pharmacology, regulatory affairs, marketing, licensing and CEO searches. Bryan has also planned, developed and managed large-scale recruitment programs for major pharmaceutical companies.

David LaGrega – Senior Director, Client Services
David is an experienced pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive recruiter with over 10 years experience in the search industry. He joined the Philadelphia office of Heidrick & Struggles in 2005 as a dedicated member of the Life Science practice, specializing in global pharmaceutical and biotechnology recruiting, ranging from director to president level. David has recruited in most functional areas including basic research, clinical research, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, marketing and sales, business development, pricing/health economics, c-level executive and board of directors. Previously, he spent four years providing contingency and retained search work for Management Recruiters Inc. based in San Diego/Philadelphia. As a full-cycle generalist recruiter, David developed search business and implemented on a global basis in areas such as administrative, hospitals, clinics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, retail, architecture, engineering, sales/marketing and IT. He had some significant performance achievements including ranking first nationally in billing. A native of Pennsylvania, David holds a B.A. in English Literature from The George Washington University.