Ruwi Cooray
Summary
Accomplished executive with extensive experience in board management and C Suite roles. Demonstrates exceptional leadership proficiency, strategic visioning, and executive decision-making. Adept at fostering innovation cultivation and promoting diversity & inclusion within organisations. Skilled in client communication and delivering impactful executive presentations. Committed to driving organisational success through strategic initiatives and effective governance.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Lead for Global R&D Talent Scout & Executive Search
Sanofi
11.2024 - 01.2026
- Leads global executive search across the R&D and Innovation leadership spectrum, including Scientific Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory, CMC, Medical Affairs, Digital, and Innovation functions; partners with senior R&D, Innovation, and HR leaders to align talent strategy with enterprise growth, transformation, and delivery objectives.
- Builds, manages, and mentors high-performing global teams of executive search professionals, team of talent scouts, and researchers, setting clear direction and fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
- Leverages innovative technological capabilities, data-driven insights, and advanced search methodologies to enhance efficiency, quality of hire, and speed of delivery across complex, global searches.
- Designs and delivers proactive global talent mapping and pipelining strategies, integrating digital tools and market intelligence to strengthen succession planning and significantly shorten delivery timelines while maintaining rigorous quality standards.
- Serves as a strategic advisor to R&D and Innovation leadership on external talent landscapes, succession planning, and competitive intelligence; translating insights into informed hiring decisions, organizational design, and workforce planning.
- Champions inclusive, future-focused executive hiring strategies, embedding diversity into leadership pipelines and expanding access to underrepresented talent across science, technology, medicine, and innovation.
- Acts as a global talent ambassador, strengthening the organization’s presence within the international scientific, R&D, and innovation ecosystem while continuously enhancing candidate and stakeholder experience.
Global Senior Executive R&D Talent Scout & Executive Search
Sanofi
01.2022 - 11.2024
- Created, launched, and implemented global Talent Management strategies across R&D and CMC.
- Designed and executed enterprise-wide Succession Planning frameworks for senior and critical R&D and CMC roles.
- Built future-ready leadership pipelines, strengthening global capability and bench strength.
- Transformed talent processes to improve efficiency, governance, and succession readiness across international operations.
- Enabled faster, higher-quality leadership deployment through integrated talent and workforce planning.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT
Talentmark
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Working on Specialise Executive Search retained roles in Pharmaceutical and Life science industry.
- Clients include big pharma, biotechnology, specialty pharma, VC, CRO, consumer healthcare, medical devices, medical technology, start-ups, consultancy, and other related service providers.
- The type of appointments I recruit are from board level, C-suite to middle management across the life science sector specialising in Discovery, Pre-clinical, Clinical development, Medical Affairs, Quality, Regulatory, PV Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Process Development, R&D and Commercial, BD, Market Access, Engineering and Marketing.
- Business development.
- Experience in Client and Project Management, Talent Mapping, Succession planning & Talent Pipelining in R&D.
- Involved in Research and Delivery of assignments Globally (USA, Europe, Asia and LATAM).
EXECUTIVE SEARCH DELIVERY CONSULTANT
Coulter Partners
London
11.2020 - 01.2021
- Delivered senior-level executive search assignments within the Life Sciences sector, partnering with leaders at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation to address complex leadership challenges.
- Operated within a fast-growing, international executive search firm, leveraging a global network and deep sector expertise to advise clients on leadership strategy and talent outcomes.
- Collaborated as part of a unified, global team, sharing market intelligence, expertise, and relationships across North America, Europe, and other key regions to deliver best-in-class talent solutions.
- Built trusted advisor relationships with clients through rigorous search execution, insight-led candidate assessment, and delivery of world-class leadership talent.
Executive Search Delivery Associate
Talentmark
London
03.2019 - 11.2020
Senior Executive Search Researcher
Talentmark
London
03.2017 - 03.2019
Executive Search Researcher
Talentmark
London
02.2016 - 02.2017
Medical Director
Hemas hospitals.com
10.2012 - 01.2016
- Recruiting Board level, C-suit and mid-level management in Medical, Clinical, Dental, Veterinary, Medical research and Law.
Clinical Physician
NHS
01.2011 - 10.2012
Clinical Doctor -Oncology
The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC (PQ 180)
11.2010 - 01.2011
- Paediatric Department
Clinical Doctor-Oncology
Sri Lanka General Hospital,COLOMBO
Colombo
09.2010 - 01.2011
- Department of Orthopaedics
Clinical Doctor -Oncology
Tianjin medical university cancer hospital
Tianjin
04.2010 - 07.2010
- Pancreatic Cancer Surgery Department
Education
Doctor of Medicine - MD - Medicine
Tianjin Medical University
01.2005 - 01.2010
Master of Business Administration - MBA - undefined
London School of Business and Finance LSBF
01.2017 - 01.2020
CIPD - Human Resources
ICS Learn
01.2021 - 01.2023
Skills
- Board of Directors
- C Suite
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Board management
- Innovation cultivation
- Executive presentation
- Strategic visioning
- Executive decision-making
- Leadership proficiency
- Client communication
Languages
English
Chinese
Hindi
Sinhalese
Nepali
Custom Section
Chasing the miracles of science to improve people’s lives
Personal Information
Title: Lead at SANOFI ( Executive Search & Talent Scout ) | Physician
Timeline
Lead for Global R&D Talent Scout & Executive Search
Sanofi
11.2024 - 01.2026
Global Senior Executive R&D Talent Scout & Executive Search
Sanofi
01.2022 - 11.2024
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT
Talentmark
01.2021 - 01.2022
CIPD - Human Resources
ICS Learn
01.2021 - 01.2023
EXECUTIVE SEARCH DELIVERY CONSULTANT
Coulter Partners
11.2020 - 01.2021
Executive Search Delivery Associate
Talentmark
03.2019 - 11.2020
Senior Executive Search Researcher
Talentmark
03.2017 - 03.2019
Master of Business Administration - MBA - undefined
London School of Business and Finance LSBF
01.2017 - 01.2020
Executive Search Researcher
Talentmark
02.2016 - 02.2017
Medical Director
Hemas hospitals.com
10.2012 - 01.2016
Clinical Physician
NHS
01.2011 - 10.2012
Clinical Doctor -Oncology
The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC (PQ 180)
11.2010 - 01.2011
Clinical Doctor-Oncology
Sri Lanka General Hospital,COLOMBO
09.2010 - 01.2011
Clinical Doctor -Oncology
Tianjin medical university cancer hospital
04.2010 - 07.2010
Doctor of Medicine - MD - Medicine
Tianjin Medical University
01.2005 - 01.2010