Chris Portanova

Principal

Chris@CrossoverSearch.com

Starting my career in Executive Search in Finance in 2007 opened an unexpected door to an industry I wasn’t too familiar with – life sciences and biotechnology, and I’m so grateful it did. As the second employee to join Crossover Search Partners, since 2013, I’ve become a student of this vast industry and have placed candidates at all levels across a wide range of functions embedded in the drug development process. I pride myself in the knowledge I’ve gained and use it on a daily basis to be a great resource to both candidates and clients as they approach their search processes.

Although we’ve become more specialized at Crossover Search Partners, I’ve built a strong and versatile foundation having recruited in most areas across the industry – Discovery/Research, Clinical/Medical, and Commercial along with the more generalized areas of Program/Portfolio Management, Business Development/Corporate Strategy, and Regulatory Affairs. I’ve become passionate about drug development and enjoy learning something new each day from my work. This passion has also led to developing other areas of Crossover Search including a data driven approach to our search process based on company research and market intelligence. 

I received my B.S. in Finance & Entrepreneurship from Syracuse University. 

Outside of work, I enjoy building a family with my partner Ashley and daughter Addison. I still also find ways to follow my passion for sports either by attending Giants football games or kicking the ball around with my nephews.

About Me

Sample Placements

Tango Therapeutics logo with a colorful abstract design and the company name in purple and gray text
  • Director, Program Management (Discovery)

Biopharma logo with overlapping blue and pink stylized letters 'b' and 'e' and the word 'Biopharma' written below.
  • VP, Program Leader

A logo with the word 'Cellarity' and a circular graphic made of horizontal lines and dots above the letter 'y'.
  • VP, Program & Alliance Management

VOR logo with a shield-like design in shades of purple and blue next to the word VOR.
  • SVP, Program & Alliance Management

Syndax Pharmaceuticals logo with the company name and a multi-colored arrow design.
  • VP, Program Lead

  • Director, Program Management

The word 'flexion' with a stylized letter 'x' connected by green dots and lines resembling a graph or network.
  • Sr. Director, Program Leadership

Vigil Neuro logo with stylized text and blue curved lines on a white background.
  • Sr. Director, Program Management

Logo of Kelonia with a stylized blue geometric icon and the word 'kelonia' in dark gray text.
  • Sr. Director, Program Management

Logo of Immunitas Therapeutics featuring a circular design with purple dots and lines, and the text 'Immunitas Therapeutics' in blue.
  • Sr. Director, Program Management

C4 Therapeutics logo with a stylized molecular design of green and blue circles.
  • Director, Program Management

Visterra logo with blue text and a multicolored spherical icon
  • Director, Program & Alliance Management

Deciphera logo with blue text and an orange curved line underneath.
  • Associate Director, Program Leadership

The word 'hypersys' written in reverse in blue font on a white oval background.
  • VP, US Regulatory Affairs

  • Global Program Team Director

The image features the text 'KYMER' with the letter 'K' partially obscured or stylized, showing the remaining letters in orange on a white background.
  • VP, Development Program Lead

  • (2) Sr. Director, Program Management

  • Director, Program Management

Takeda logo in red text inside a red semicircular shape on a white oval background.
  • Global Medical Head of Immunology

Case Studies

  • Head of Project & Portfolio Management

    Retained search for clinical-stage oncology focused privately held biotech

  • Director, Global/US Medical Affairs

    Cell and gene therapy biotech

  • Sr. Director, Project Team Leader

    Clinical-stage biotech developing immunotherapies