Executive Search for Nordhealth’s Therapy Business Unit CEO

Nordhealth

• Leading cloud-based healthcare SaaS provider

• Headquartered in Helsinki, listed on Euronext Growth

• Provides practice management and digital solutions to 13,000+ clinics in 40+ countries

• 400 employees, strong Nordic roots

• Mission: Redefining digital healthcare through modern SaaS innovation

Strategic Challenge

Nordhealth’s Board recognized the need for external leadership to drive the Therapy Business Unit’s next phase of growth. The key imperatives were:

• Innovation Acceleration: Enhance product development and deepen technological capabilities

• Market Expansion: Drive commercial growth and enter new therapy software markets

• Global Growth: Sustain international expansion, with emphasis on the U.S.

• Leadership Enhancement: Inject external SaaS expertise and product-led thinking

• Customer Experience: Uplift the organization to meet growing mental health market demands

Search Objectives

Nordhealth retained Proksch & Co to identify a transformational leader who could:

• Spearhead product innovation and tech development

• Expand market presence and drive commercial growth

• Lead organizational transformation and enhance customer experience

• Bring strong product-led SaaS leadership

• Scale therapy software globally without compromising on quality

Executive Search Process

1. Competency Definition

• Target profile: Executive with track record in VC/private equity-backed SaaS

• Proven success in product scaling and tech innovation

• Strong knowledge of health tech growth drivers

• Ability to lead product-first organizations in competitive markets

2. Global Market Mapping

• Mapped talent across EMEA and U.S. health tech landscapes

• Focused on candidates with experience in both European and American SaaS markets

• Prioritized leaders with cross-border expansion and platform scaling experience

3. Assessment & Shortlisting

• Prioritized senior product and growth leaders

• Searched across health tech, recruitment tech, and adjacent industries

• Assessed customer-centricity and ability to drive execution at scale

4. Selection & Appointment

• Karan Wallia selected as the top candidate

• Former SVP of Product & Ecosystem at SmartRecruiters

• Ex-Director of Product at Booking.com

• Demonstrated leadership in global platform scaling and innovation

The Appointment: Karan Wallia

Professional Background

• SVP, SmartRecruiters: Led product innovation and ecosystem strategy

• Director, Booking.com: Drove global platform development

• Expertise: Product innovation, global scaling, customer-centric execution

• Experience: Operated in both U.S. and EMEA markets

Strategic Fit

• Product Leadership: Deep product management experience in SaaS

• Global Growth: Proven international scaling capabilities

• Customer Focus: Strong commitment to user experience

• Tech Vision: Clear alignment with Nordhealth’s product-led mission

• Health Tech Relevance: Experience transferable to digital health context

Role Structure & Strategic Impact

Full P&L Responsibility

• Direct accountability for Therapy Business Unit operations

• Ownership of product roadmap, development, and go-to-market strategy

• End-to-end divisional P&L and performance management

Organizational Benefits

• Frees Group CEO Charles MacBain to focus on strategic initiatives and M&A

• Enhances execution speed with focused, empowered leadership

• Elevates business unit autonomy and agility

Board Perspective

“Wallia’s extensive leadership in technology-driven organizations will be instrumental in advancing our mission to deliver exceptional digital healthcare solutions.”

Early Results & Strategic Impact

Market Confidence

• Appointment clearly communicated to internal and external stakeholders

• Positive reception from investors and customers

• Reinforced Nordhealth’s credibility in therapy software market

Innovation Culture

• Strengthened product-driven innovation across the organization

• Renewed emphasis on customer-obsessed development and responsiveness

• Enhanced capability for rapid iteration and global rollout

Strategic Positioning

• Demonstrates Nordhealth’s commitment to global talent acquisition

• Aligns divisional leadership with multi-market expansion goals

• Boosts organizational capacity for U.S. market penetration

Operational Execution

• Clear role design ensures tight alignment between product and commercial strategy

• Dedicated divisional leadership enhances agility and market responsiveness

Key Success Factors

1. Strategic Role Design

• Full P&L ownership with defined scope and accountability

• Enables therapy unit to execute autonomously while aligning with group strategy

2. Global Talent Acquisition

• Successfully attracted executive talent with both EMEA and U.S. SaaS experience

• Demonstrates Nordhealth’s pull as a global employer of choice

3. Product-Led Growth Focus

• Appointment prioritized product management excellence and innovation credentials

• Reinforces Nordhealth’s culture of customer-centric technology leadership

4. Market Expansion Experience

• Wallia’s international experience directly supports U.S. expansion goals

• Balances product strategy with commercial execution expertise

Lessons for Healthcare SaaS Executive Search

1. Divisional CEO Model

• Specialized leadership accelerates growth in complex verticals like therapy

• P&L ownership drives performance and accountability

• Strategic separation empowers both divisional focus and group-level innovation

2. Global Talent Strategy

• European SaaS firms benefit from globalizing their leadership pipelines

• Cross-market expertise vital for scaling internationally

• SaaS product leadership is highly transferable into digital health

3. Specialist Search Partnerships

• Healthcare tech firms gain value from executive search firms with domain knowledge

• Understanding of both SaaS and healthcare markets is key

• Product leadership assessment within health tech context is critical

4. Stakeholder Communication

• Clear, strategic messaging builds trust and confidence

• Transparent role definition ensures alignment and focus

• Strong communication enhances employer brand and market perception

Strategic Implications

Market Positioning

• Signals intent to lead globally in therapy software

• External appointment showcases ambition and execution capability

• Product-led approach builds competitive differentiation

Organizational Maturity

• Demonstrates readiness to scale and professionalize leadership

• Attracting top-tier global talent strengthens organizational capability

• Leadership structure supports both innovation and commercial excellence

Growth Acceleration

• Enhanced capacity to expand in the U.S. and other global markets

• Stronger alignment between product vision and market needs

• Supports Nordhealth’s broader M&A and specialty expansion roadmap