WAYNE, PA, and ORLANDO, FL — Connect Life Sciences (CLS) announced two new additions to its Board of Directors. Mark Smith will join as Executive Chairman, and Jerick Henley as a Director. CLS, a life sciences recruitment solutions company, is backed by Argosy Healthcare Partners (AHP).
Both Smith and Henley bring significant expertise to CLS. They previously collaborated with Paul Barrett, AHP’s Managing Partner, to scale and eventually sell American Health Staffing Group (AHSG) to Littlejohn & Co. in 2021.
Smith and Henley are seasoned entrepreneurs. They co-founded AHS Staffing in 2010, which grew rapidly under their leadership. They sold a majority stake in 2016 to a private equity firm where Barrett served as Managing Director. The company was later rebranded to AHSG and expanded through four acquisitions, transforming into a technology-driven healthcare workforce solutions provider. This venture culminated in a lucrative sale to Littlejohn & Co. in 2021. Before AHS, Smith founded Foundation Medical Staffing, which was sold to CHG Healthcare in 2007.
Paul Barrett expressed his excitement about reuniting with Smith and Henley. “Working with Mark, Jerick, and AHSG was the most formative professional experience of my career. I am thrilled we can team up again to support Jim Owens, Andrew Doucet, and CLS in achieving their vision. We see great potential for CLS to become a leading provider of staffing solutions in the life sciences industry.”
Smith and Henley echoed Barrett’s sentiments. “We are excited to partner again with Paul and bring our experience to the CLS team. CLS has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to scale in high-growth markets like pharma, biotech, and medical devices.”
Jim Owens, CEO of CLS, also welcomed the new board members. “We are embarking on a journey that Mark and Jerick have successfully executed before. Their track records and expertise will be crucial as we implement our strategic initiatives and drive long-term value for our stakeholders.”
The appointments of Smith and Henley signal a robust future for CLS, aiming to leverage their extensive industry experience to navigate and thrive in the competitive life sciences sector.
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