GTCR, a Chicago-based private equity firm, has partnered with Steve Powell and Mary Mattes to form Harpula Health Holdings LLC.
Based in Raleigh, Harpula will look to acquire companies and assets in the technology pharmaceutical services industry as part of a strategy to build a company focused on improving the efficiency of drug research and development. Powell and Mattes are serving as chief executive officer and chief operating officer at Harupla, respectively, and will make an investment alongside GTCR.
Powell has approximately 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical services industry and most recently served as chief executive officer at Synteract. Mattes most recently served as executive vice president of global operations for the Synteract division of Syneos Health. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Mattes has worked across the CRO sector in operational and technology delivery roles.
“We look forward to working together with Steve and Mary to build a leading tech-enabled pharmaceutical solutions company,” comments Ben Daverman, managing director and co-head of healthcare at GTCR. “They have an exceptional track record in the pharmaceutical services space with experience across CRO and eClinical organizations. Their backgrounds, industry expertise and strategic vision make them ideal partners as GTCR commits to build a platform in this attractive industry.”