Denise DeMan

LIFE SCIENCE: 27% Revenue Bump, Diversity Goals Exceeded

Since Denise “DeeDee” DeMan founded Bench International in 1974, the company has grown from a one-person life science and healthcare executive recruiting and advisory firm into one with a global presence.

Bench International is the world's oldest, international, and certified woman-owned retained executive search firm serving the life sciences. It has a reputation as the most comprehensive search firms working exclusively in executive recruitment for the life sciences.

DeMan was named by the San Diego Business Journal as 2022 Business Woman of the Year among small companies with five to 49 employees.

A Powerhouse

DeMan has made a significant impact on the life science community through Bench International by recruiting and making executive placements in the international biotech sector.

DeMan has been described as a powerhouse figure in the local biopharma industry and someone whose grace, intelligence and resilience are inspiring.

With DeMan as its chairman and CEO, Bench is considered one of the most successful companies, shattering diversity ceilings by bringing women, people of color, as well as those who think and do differently to leadership roles in life science companies.

Bench exclusively serves the pharmaceutical, life science platform technologies, biotechnology, devices, diagnostics, bio-pharma and drug/device combinations industries.

The company's footprint extends across the U.S., Europe and reaches to Australia and the Pacific Rim.

Long Term Partners

For more than 45 years, Bench has had a remarkable track record.

Under DeMan's leadership the company's revenue in fiscal year 2021 was 27% higher than it was in the 2020 fiscal year and 60% of Bench's hires in the last year have either met or exceeded diversity standards.

The firm has established an enviable record in placing people. More than 75% of those recruited through Bench stay with the same company for five years or more with an average of two promotions in five years.

Vetted job candidates are delivered by Bench within two to five weeks.

As a result of Bench's finding the right people for the right positions, 90% of Bench's clients are long-term partners.

The firm's recruiting practice encompasses recruiting independent board members and spans corporate leadership and leadership positions in discovery, research and development through commercial leadership.

Its advisory practice includes confidential diagnostic projects and leadership managing projects.

Inspiring

Giving back to the industry important to DeMan. In addition to her leadership at Bench, DeMan is a leader in industry and charitable organizations such as BIOCOM, Life Science Cares, Learning Forum International, Making Great Kids Greater, Healthcare Business Woman’s Association and the Bank of Women.

She also empowers others at Bench to engage in causes that are important to them.

DeMan is an inductee of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

A graduate of Drexel University's Corporate Governance Program, DeMan holds a double masters of science degree in auditory pathology and speech pathology.

Before founding Bench International, DeMan was a research fellow in a joint research program sponsored by the National Institute of Health, Siemens Corp., the University of California, San Diego State University, and the San Diego Speech and Hearing Center.

Since 1974, Bench International has served its client partners using a performance milestone accountable model. DeMan was named by PharmaVoice as one of “The Top 100 Most Inspiring People” in the pharma industry.