One of the most valuable investments a company can make before launching a search is a real calibration session. The goal is to get your CEO, co-founders, and key stakeholders aligned on the profile before the search begins, not during it. This doesn't mean everyone adds an attribute or two until you're chasing a purple squirrel that doesn't exist (though we'd really like to meet one). The real work of calibration is navigating trade-offs together, pressure-testing which attributes are truly non-negotiable and which ones you'd willingly sacrifice for the right person.

Start with one question: If this executive is successful, what have they accomplished in 24 months?

Then, start to play:

1. Run a "day in the life" exercise. What is this executive focused on day-to-day? Have stakeholders answer independently. Where their responses diverge is exactly where you need to align.
2. Look at comparable hires. Find a few executives at similar companies and use them as anchors. Would you hire them? What about their background is compelling, or not?
3. Build 2-3 archetypes and react to them. Rather than describing your ideal candidate in the abstract, sketch out a few distinct personas and find real examples of each. A rising star vs. a seasoned executive. Provider sales vs. hospital systems. Services vs. SaaS. Notice where the energy in the room goes.
4. Force-rank your attributes. Using what you've learned from the archetypes and comparables, build a scorecard and weight the attributes that matter most. Pro tip: define what "good," "better," and "best" looks like within each attribute so evaluations stay consistent across your team.
5. Share the scorecard. Make sure everyone involved in the search, including those doing informal conversations, knows what they're looking for and can flag candidates who fit.

The best calibration sessions also leave room to learn as you go. Some of the most important insights about a role only emerge through early candidate conversations. A strong profile you didn't expect can sharpen your thinking, and recurring themes across candidates can spark useful debates. The goal isn't a perfect brief on day one. It's a shared foundation you can build on together.

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• Ric Sinclair joins Cotiviti, a healthcare analytics company, as Chief Executive Officer (Source)
• Hamilton Bowman joins One Mnet Health, a patient billing company, as Chief Executive Officer (Source)
• Lyric, a payment accuracy company, appoints Ravi Umarji as President (Source)
• Tony Clapsis joins Optum Life Sciences, a life sciences consulting and services company, as Chief Financial Officer (Source)
• Zus Health, a health data platform, appoints Jason H. Bent as Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer (Source)
• Louise DeBellonia joins Health Monitor Network, a healthcare marketing platform, as EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer (Source)
• Mosai, a care coordination software company, appoints Lani Williams as Chief People Officer and Stephen Snook as Chief Revenue Officer (Source)
• Vijay Prabhakar joins Advantmed, a healthcare information management company, as Chief Revenue Officer (Source)
• Oscar Health, a health insurance plans and services company, appoints Louis DeStefano as Chief Growth Officer and Kristen Prestano as SVP, Chief Marketing Officer (Source)
• Dr. Muthu Meyyappan joins Fidelion, a precision diagnostics company, as Chief Commercial Officer (Source)
• Midstream Health, a financial action platform, appoints Omar Nagji as Chief Commercial Officer (Source)
• Kiel Dowlin joins You Are Accountable, an online addiction recovery support company, as Chief Strategy Officer (Source)
• Ken Chatfield joins AristaMD, a technology-enabled clinical services organization, as Chief Information and Technology Officer (Source)
• Sean O’Keefe joins Red Cell Partners, an early-stage healthcare technology venture firm, as Deputy Chief Technology Partners (Source)
• Dr. Stephen Bekanich joins BrainCheck, a cognitive health company. as Chief Medical Officer (Source)
• Dr. Scott Lundy joins Legacy, a male fertility clinic, as Chief Medical Officer (Source)
• Visana Health, a virtual women’s health clinic, promotes Carla Eckhardt Taracena as Chief Clinical Officer (Source)
• Kathryn Beiser joins Hims & Hers, a health and wellness company, as Chief Communications Officer (Source)

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