Prothena appoints David A. Ford to lead talent strategy and organizational development.
Client: Prothena | Role: Chief People Officer | Candidate: David A. Ford
Recruiter: Beth Ehrgott, Managing Director
Overview
Prothena, a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company advancing therapies for rare peripheral amyloid and neurodegenerative diseases, partnered with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit a Chief People Officer. As the company is scaling its commercial and research operations globally, it needed a people-first executive to build a world-class HR function to support innovation, rapid growth, and cultural alignment.
Key Leadership Need
Prothena wanted a Chief People Officer, a leader with experience scaling HR in complex science-driven environments who can align people and systems to support culture, speed, and cross-border growth.
The Alexander Group’s Approach
Managing Director Beth Ehrgott conducted a focused search targeting senior HR leaders in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sectors with a track record of delivering scalable people strategies across multiple geographies.
Search priorities included:
- Global HR leadership experience across the U.S., Europe, and LATAM markets.
- Proven success building HR infrastructure for commercial-stage biotechs.
- A strong background in talent management, culture-building, and executive coaching.
David A. Ford emerged as the clear fit. With over two decades of experience at Intercept, Sanofi, and the New Zealand Dairy Board, he will bring a rare combination of operational depth and strategic agility in global human capital leadership.
Successful Placement and Impact
David A. Ford will join Prothena to lead the company’s global people strategy, overseeing HR operations, talent development, and leadership alignment to support rapid organizational growth.
Immediate Impact:
- Lead the development of a scalable, globally aligned HR infrastructure.
- Build executive and cross-functional talent frameworks for future expansion.
- Strengthen culture through leadership development and employee engagement.
- Partner with the CEO and leadership team to align people strategy with the company’s mission and values.
Insights from the Recruiter
“David is passionately interested in the business, cares about the science and patients, and is a contagious champion of culture, people, and the value human resources can bring to achieve a company’s mission and goals. He is a wonderful fit for Prothena, and especially at this pivotal time as the company moves closer to becoming a fully integrated commercial-stage biopharma organization.”
– Beth Ehrgott, Managing Director, The Alexander Group.
About Prothena
Prothena is a global, late-stage clinical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for rare and complex diseases involving protein dysregulation, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and AL amyloidosis. The company’s mission is to change the course of disease and improve lives through breakthrough science.
About The Alexander Group
The Alexander Group is a global executive search firm headquartered in Houston. With deep expertise across biotech, life sciences, and corporate leadership, the firm partners with organizations that are scaling innovation and transforming healthcare.
When science moves fast, people’s strategy needs to move faster. The Alexander Group helps growing companies hire leaders who make that possible.