Hanson Wade Group has appointed Robert Poolman as Chief Executive Officer, Beacon and Intelligence, placing him in charge of the organisation’s data-driven, intelligence, and insight-led businesses supporting the life sciences and healthcare sectors. In this position, he oversees strategic direction and global execution, with a mandate to deliver high-impact intelligence solutions that enable informed decision-making across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare landscape.
In his new role, Robert is responsible for shaping the long-term vision of Beacon and Intelligence while ensuring operational delivery aligns with the evolving needs of global clients. His remit spans the development of advanced data platforms, insight products, and intelligence capabilities designed to support research, commercial strategy, and competitive positioning across the life sciences ecosystem.
Robert brings more than two decades of experience across data platforms, product leadership, competitive and business intelligence, intellectual property, and operational strategy. His career reflects a consistent focus on bridging scientific innovation with commercial execution, positioning him to guide Beacon and Intelligence through its next phase of growth.
Prior to assuming this role, he served as Chief Data Officer at Hanson Wade Group from June 2024 to December 2025, where he played a central role in shaping the company’s data strategy, go-to-market approach, and enterprise-wide intelligence capabilities. This period laid the foundation for the expansion and integration of data and insight-led offerings now housed within Beacon and Intelligence.
Before joining Hanson Wade Group, Robert spent nearly seven years at Clarivate, holding a series of senior leadership positions across life science and healthcare product portfolios. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Life Science and Healthcare Products from November 2022 to June 2024, where he led product strategy and market development across a broad suite of research and intelligence solutions.
Earlier at Clarivate, he was Vice President of Life Science and Healthcare Products from April 2022 to April 2023, and Vice President, Web of Science Product Platform from August 2020 to April 2022. In these roles, he was responsible for large-scale product platforms, market analysis, and the evolution of data-driven tools used by researchers, institutions, and commercial organisations worldwide.
His tenure at Clarivate also included leadership of the preclinical segment, where he served as Head of Preclinical Segment and Director of Discovery and Preclinical Products between September 2017 and August 2020. During this time, he oversaw product development and market strategy for solutions supporting early-stage research and discovery.
Earlier in his career, Robert held leadership roles at Novartis, Pfizer, and Minesoft, further deepening his expertise at the intersection of scientific research, intellectual property, data analytics, and commercial decision-making. These experiences contributed to a well-rounded understanding of how intelligence and data can accelerate innovation and operational performance within global life science organisations.
