Water Street Healthcare Partners Announces Appointment of David Johnston

Former Thermo Fisher Scientific & PPD Executive Deepens Health Care Firm's Pharma Services and Life Sciences Expertise

CHICAGO , April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Water Street Healthcare Partners, an investment firm dedicated to building market-leading businesses in health care, today announced the appointment of biopharmaceutical industry veteran David M. Johnston, Ph.D. to its team. Dr. Johnston joins Water Street following a successful career with Thermo Fisher Scientific where he served as a member of the corporate leadership team and led its contract research organization, PPD. He will work with Water Street's team to engage with pharmaceutical services and life science businesses interested in achieving next-level growth and value creation.

"I'm excited to work with Water Street's team to advance our shared mission of building businesses that will make meaningful impacts in the pharmaceutical and life science sector, and most importantly, have a positive impact on patient care. It's a dynamic time in our industry with new therapeutic modalities and digital technologies creating opportunities for innovation and growth. Water Street stands out as strategic partner that provides deep industry knowledge and resources to help businesses navigate the complexities of a regulated environment and advance their growth objectives," said Dr. Johnston.

Dr. Johnston brings to Water Street more than 25 years of leadership experience in clinical research. As president of PPD, Thermo Fisher's contract research organization, he was instrumental in establishing the CRO as a leader in supporting complex studies and innovative therapies. Prior to PPD becoming part of Thermo Fisher, Dr. Johnston guided all aspects of its early and late-phase global clinical development work after having led its laboratories businesses. Dr. Johnston began his career at LabCorp, where he was promoted to senior vice president and global head of clinical trials, and his work led to the industry's first companion diagnostic test developed in tandem with a therapy. Over the course of his career, he has lectured on clinical research at universities and published peer-reviewed articles on a range of clinical research topics.

Dr. Johnston is the latest addition to Water Street's team as it continues to expand its significant presence in the pharmaceutical and life science sector. The health care firm has completed more than 70 transactions across numerous sub-sectors of pharmaceutical services to build a premier group of companies advancing drug and device development and commercialization.  

ABOUT WATER STREET

Water Street Healthcare Partners is a strategic investor dedicated to building market-leading businesses in three critical health care sectors: medical products and diagnostics, pharmaceutical and life sciences, and health care services. The firm has completed more than 165 investments and acquisitions to build 48+ companies contributing to improved patient care, innovation, and a more efficient health care system. Working closely with leadership teams, Water Street contributes its industry experience and network of resources to support businesses' growth objectives. Based in Chicago, Water Street's team is a distinctive blend of health care executives, investment professionals and functional specialists with decades of experience investing in and operating global health care businesses. For more information, visit waterstreet.com.

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SOURCE Water Street Healthcare Partners