Building Fujitsu Global’s quantum capability in drug discovery

We partnered with Fujitsu Global, a public listed technology corporation, to help build a high impact quantum computing function focused on drug discovery. This work sat inside a startup style venture within a much larger corporate environment, which meant the pace, ambiguity and expectations were very different to a typical enterprise team. 

When Senior Director, Niven Payne, approached Mark Paterson, he knew the Quantum Commercial Lead hire was pivotal, but the role itself was hard to define on paper as the Quantum offerings were still early in its development. The business needed a rare blend of deep technical credibility and commercial, entrepreneurial leadership. They were searching for a profile who could build, execute and lead a new division, not just contribute to it.

Building Fujitsu Global’s quantum capability in drug discovery

The story of Fujitsu Global

Fujitsu Global is on a mission to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. Their quantum computing capability is built to translate frontier science into real commercial outcomes. 

Within drug discovery, that meant shaping a proposition, building a team, and winning market confidence, all while operating within a corporate environment that still demanded real pace and delivery.

Challenge: Identifying a leader in a narrow talent pool

This was a genuine “unicorn” search. The business had previously engaged technical leadership for the team, but they were missing the skills required to drive change and turn capability into a scalable, commercial engine. 

There were a number of challenges they faced in engaging a specialist Quantum Commercial Lead, including: 

  • A highly limited global talent pool  
  • The search for a rare combination of quantum depth, computational chemistry and commercial leadership 
  • The requirements to comfortably operate in ambiguity, with little structure and high expectation

Due to the nature of the role, this would likely be a career pivot for the right candidate. This meant that motivation and positioning mattered just as much as sourcing.

Solution: A close search partnership

This search became a close collaboration between Mark and Fujitsu. First, Mark partnered with Niven to shape the mandate and align on the non-negotiables. The final brief centred on: 

  • Quantum technical experience
  • Computational chemistry experience 
  • Commercial leadership qualities (the closest comparison being first on the ground VP Sales level ownership and drive) 

From there, we ran a targeted, insight-led search where we: 

  • Mapped every credible candidate at the right level across the quantum market with relevant computational chemistry overlap 
  • Methodically approached and assessed the entire addressable pool 
  • Screened for the multi-dimensional leadership capability, not just technical excellence 
  • Calibrated continuously with the stakeholders to keep the brief grounded in what the market could deliver

Result: A transformational Quantum Commercial Lead appointment

We successfully appointed a Quantum Commercial Lead (UK based with a global remit), delivered on time and within budget. 

The impact of this appointment has been transformational. The Lead acted as a catalyst for the function’s momentum, enabling Fujitsu to: 

  • Launch their SaaS platform 
  • Win significant customers 
  • Build out the proposition and commercial direction 
  • Hire and develop a small team underneath the new leader

Candidate Thought Count: 0

Get in touch to learn more about our executive search services.

Michael Judkins Customer Experience & Growth Director

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