Collins Helvetia
Collins Helvetia · Basel, Switzerland

Breakthroughs aren't luck — they're led.

Where strategy meets execution.

Proven experience.
Fresh perspective.
Consistent delivery.

Senior pharma R&D leadership — from early-stage technical R&D and regulatory strategy through clinical operations, portfolio governance, and operational excellence — available as strategic advisor, fractional lead, or programme executive.

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Michael Collins
25+
Years in pharma R&D leadership
2
Major R&D transformations delivered, including AI/ML-driven 30% cycle time reduction
3
Drugs approved by FDA & EMA with hands-on programme leadership
50+
PMs trained & developed across organisations

"The junction of rigorous programme governance and strategic business insight is where value is created — and too rarely occupied."

Michael Collins · Founder
01

About
the Practice

CSL Behring Executive Director, R&D Project Management
Roche Programme & Portfolio Management Leader
Novartis Head, Development PM & Operational Excellence
MediGene Project Management & Regulatory Affairs
Fujisawa / Astellas Regulatory Affairs

At Roche, Novartis, and CSL Behring, I entered R&D organisations where project management was treated as overhead — and left it as a measurable strategic driver. Three drugs approved. Two major transformations delivered. Cycle times cut by 30%. That is the pattern Collins Helvetia was built to replicate.

This consultancy exists for organisations navigating complexity — pipeline growth, capability gaps, AI/ML adoption, or the need for senior R&D leadership that can operate at both strategic and programme level simultaneously. Based in Basel, at the heart of global life sciences, with an international operating model.

Certifications
PMP PMI-ACP Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ICF / CTI Coach PROSCI Change Mgmt IMD High Performance Leadership
Functions
Portfolio & PM Clinical Operations Regulatory Affairs CMC Operational Excellence AI / ML & Digital
Therapeutic Areas
Rare Disease Oncology Gene Therapy Vaccines Immunology
02

Services & Capabilities

01 · Core
R&D Portfolio Management
Strategic portfolio governance, prioritisation frameworks, resource allocation, and pipeline decision-making that align R&D investment to corporate strategy.
02 · Core
Programme & Project Management
End-to-end programme leadership across clinical development — from IND-enabling studies through NDA/MAA submission — with hands-on CRO and alliance management to keep delivery on time and within budget.
03 · Transformation
Operational Excellence
Process design, governance architecture, and operating model transformation that embed efficiency and accountability across the R&D organisation.
04 · Transformation
AI/ML Integration
Practical AI/ML adoption in R&D workflows — from automated project tracking and risk prediction to intelligent portfolio analytics and digital PM capability building.
05 · Advisory
Due Diligence
Independent expert assessment of pipeline assets, development timelines, regulatory risk, and operational readiness for M&A, in-licensing, and investment decisions.
06 · Capability
PM Function & Capability Building
Designing and embedding world-class PM functions from the ground up — PM Academy development, maturity benchmarking, structured capability pathways, and the organisational change needed to make PM a lasting strategic driver.
03

How I
Work

01
Diagnose
A structured discovery engagement to understand your pipeline, organisation, culture, and the core challenge to be solved — before recommending anything.
02
Design
Co-develop a pragmatic, fit-for-purpose solution — governance model, operating framework, or programme plan — grounded in your context, not templates.
03
Deliver
Hands-on execution alongside your team, not just slide decks. I embed where needed and hold accountability for outcomes, not just recommendations.
04
Develop
Knowledge transfer, capability building, and coaching to ensure the organisation owns the solution and continues to grow without dependency on external support.
The Embedded Advantage
"Strategy without delivery is theory. Delivery without strategy is motion."
Most organisations face a gap between the two — advisors who diagnose and leave, or contractors who execute without challenge. I operate in both registers simultaneously: setting strategic direction and holding accountability for programme outcomes.

That is the model Collins Helvetia was built around.
Experience across organisations including
Roche
Novartis
CSL Behring
Fujisawa / Astellas
MediGene
04

Working
With Me

Fractional Engagement
Part-time,
fully embedded
You get senior R&D leadership without the full-time overhead. I work inside your organisation — in your meetings, on your systems, alongside your team — typically 2–3 days per week.
  • Fractional Head of R&D PM / Portfolio
  • Fractional Chief of Staff
  • Fractional Head of R&D Operations
  • Flexible duration, renewable quarterly
Project-Based Delivery
Defined scope,
measurable outcome
A scoped engagement with clear deliverables, timeline, and accountability. No open-ended retainers — I propose a clear brief and deliver against it.
  • Portfolio governance design & implementation
  • PM function build or transformation
  • AI/ML capability deployment in R&D PM
  • Process redesign & operating model
  • R&D due diligence support
Interim / Full-Time Cover
Immediate capacity,
zero ramp time
When you have a gap in leadership — through transition, restructuring, or a critical programme — I step in at full capacity with 25+ years of muscle memory from day one.
  • Interim Head of R&D Programme Management
  • Interim Global Head of R&D Operations
  • Bridge coverage during executive search
  • Critical programme rescue & recovery
Every engagement begins with a no-obligation 30-minute conversation to establish fit, scope, and the right structure for your organisation and challenge. I work with early-stage biotechs, mid-size speciality pharma, and large R&D organisations alike.
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05

Insights &
Perspectives

Operational Excellence
The $2.6 Billion Question: Why Are We Still Waiting Weeks for Decisions?
12 to 17 months of drug development time is spent waiting for governance meetings — not experiments, not trials. The organisations pulling ahead have fundamentally rethought when, how, and who makes decisions.
Michael Collins · 2025 Read Article →
AI / ML & Digital Transformation
Does AI Leadership Equal Molecule Innovation?
Some of the biggest AI investors in pharma are struggling to translate technology into molecules. Others are getting it exactly right. An analysis of CB Insights and IDEA Pharma benchmarks across the top 50 life science companies.
Michael Collins · 2025 Read Article →
Portfolio Governance & Agile R&D
The Case Against Rigid Stage Gates in Pharma R&D
Stage-gate processes were designed for predictability. Drug development is not predictable. The organisations that outperform have built governance frameworks light enough to move fast and robust enough to catch the things that matter.
Michael Collins · 2025 Read Article →
PM Capability & Organisational Transformation
Building a PM Function That Earns Its Seat at the Table
Most R&D PM functions are built to report, not to lead. Elevating PM from operational support to strategic driver requires a deliberate shift in accountability, capability, and the language the function uses to measure its own success.
Michael Collins · 2025 Read Article →
Follow on LinkedIn for regular perspectives on R&D leadership, AI in pharma, and portfolio management →
06

Start a
Conversation

Whether you have a defined brief or an emerging challenge, I welcome a conversation. Most engagements begin with a no-obligation 30-minute call to establish fit and scope. I work with organisations across Europe, the US, and globally — location is not a constraint.

Based Basel, Switzerland
Reach Global — Europe · US · International
Email michael@collinshelvetia.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/michaelcollins02
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