Senior Associate - European Competition practice

Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI) has appointed Christopher Zealey as Vice President in its Life Sciences Practice. Zealey brings expertise in cross-functional and medical strategic planning, insight generation, scientific communication strategy, and clinical positioning. Before joining CRA, Zealey was a partner at a life sciences and pharmaceutical consulting firm, where he led client engagements across strategic planning, insight generation, and medical intelligence to support product launches. His experience includes leveraging data and stakeholder perspectives to inform strategy. CRA's Life Sciences Practice works with biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as law firms and regulatory agencies. The firm has been expanding its capabilities to help clients navigate complex medical affairs and launch decisions. Zealey holds an MSc in Biotechnology from McGill University and a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Waterloo.

Charles River Associates adds Harvard professor Feng Zhu to antitrust practice. October 1, 2026 Charles River Associates has added Harvard Business School professor Feng Zhu as an academic affiliate in its Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice, strengthening the consulting firm's expertise in digital markets, technology competition and regulatory economics. Zhu joins CRA while continuing his academic work at Harvard Business School, where he is the Harry E. Figgie, Jr. Professor of Business Administration. His research focuses on digital transformation, competitive strategy, business model innovation and the ways technology companies respond to changing competitive and regulatory conditions. The appointment expands CRA's capabilities as competition authorities, companies and courts increasingly confront questions involving digital platforms, artificial intelligence, software ecosystems and other technology-driven markets. Zhu's work examining the strategic behavior of large technology companies gives the firm additional academic expertise for matters where business models and market structure are closely tied to technology. "His research examines how technology-driven firms compete, evolve, and respond to regulatory dynamics," CRA President and CEO Paul Maleh said. At Harvard, Zhu leads the Platform Lab within the university's AI Institute and co-chairs the Analytics Program. He has written more than 80 articles, cases and research notes across academic and practitioner publications. His work combines academic research with direct exposure to the strategic issues facing major technology businesses. Zhu has advised business leaders at companies including Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and Uber, according to CRA. That experience is particularly relevant to competition matters involving platform economics, where regulators and companies may need to evaluate issues such as network effects, market entry, business model changes and the competitive consequences of decisions made by large digital businesses. "Feng's recent work has focused on the strategic behavior of large technology companies and the broader economic and competitive implications of digital markets, which is of particular interest for many of our clients," said Margaret Sanderson, vice president and global practice leader of CRA's Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice. Zhu also has experience with antitrust and competition matters in China, adding expertise to CRA's China Competition Practice as the firm advises clients across multiple regulatory jurisdictions. CRA's competition economists provide economic analysis and expert testimony in antitrust and competition matters globally. The practice works across industries including technology, healthcare, energy, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, pharmaceuticals, financial services, transportation, retail and consumer products. The addition of Zhu gives the practice another resource for cases where traditional competition economics intersects with rapidly changing technology and operating models. Digital businesses can present different competitive dynamics from conventional industries because software platforms can connect multiple groups of users, scale rapidly and evolve their products and pricing models as markets develop. Zhu holds a Ph.D. in Science, Technology, and Management and a master's degree in Computer Science from Harvard University. He earned his bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics from Williams College. Boston-based Charles River Associates provides economic, financial and management consulting services, including support for litigation and regulatory proceedings as well as corporate strategy and performance matters. Founded in 1965, the firm operates offices globally. Zhu's appointment adds academic and technology-market expertise to CRA's antitrust practice as clients navigate increasingly complex questions involving digital competition, AI, platform businesses and regulatory scrutiny across international markets.