Board of Directors

Gerry BrownGerry Brown

Chairman and Non-Executive Director

Gerry Brown joined the Board in 2006 and was appointed Chairman of the Company in June 2006.  He is Chairman of Quintiles Transnational Europe and of NFT Distribution Holdings.  He is also a Senior Independent Director of both Forth Ports plc and Keller plc.  He was formerly Chairman of Upol Ltd and a non-executive director of Vantec Ltd, CH Jones Ltd, Michael Gerson Ltd and Datrontech plc.  His executive career included directorships with Exel Logistics plc, TDG plc and Tibbett & Britten plc.  Age 63.

Crispin SimonCrispin Simon

Chief Executive

Crispin Simon joined the Company in June 1998. After working at NM Rothschild and McKinsey & Company, he gained general management experience at senior executive level with Rexam plc (then Bowater) and then as President of the Endoscopy Division of Smith & Nephew plc, based in Boston, USA. Crispin Simon is a non-executive director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and a Governor of Port Regis School.  Age 50.

Ian ArdillIan Ardill

Finance Director & Company Secretary

Ian Ardill, appointed to the Board in October 2004, joined Biocompatibles in January 2003 having spent the previous five years working for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in a variety of financial positions covering Financial Accounting, Systems Implementation, and Treasury. Prior to that, he worked for Letheby & Christopher, a subsidiary of Compass Group PLC; NHA International, a sales and management consultancy; and qualified as an accountant with Grant Thornton. He has a BSc in Accounting and Financial Analysis from Warwick University, England.  Age 40.

Jeremy Curnock CookJeremy Curnock Cook

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Jeremy Curnock Cook joined the Board in 1990. He is Executive Chairman of Bioscience Managers Limited, an investment advisory company to the biotechnology industry. He served as Managing Director of the Rothschild Bioscience Unit from 1987 until his retirement in 2000. Other directorships include: Chairman of Targeted Genetics Inc. (USA), atugen AG (Germany) and Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals (Canada), and director of Silence Therapeutics (UK), Osteologix Inc (USA), International Bioscience Managers Limited (UK), Intersuisse Bioscience Managers Pty. (Aus) and BML Canada Limited.  Age 58.

Sir Thomas HarrisSir Thomas Harris

Independent Non-Executive Director

Thomas Harris joined the Board on 1 November 2005. He is Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Capital Markets Ltd, a director of the Imperial War Museum and IFSL and a Trustee of Asia House. He was Director General of Trade & Investment USA responsible for British business and technology promotion throughout the USA. He served as British Ambassador to Korea in Seoul, Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Nigeria and Commercial Counsellor in the British Embassy in Washington DC.  Age 63.

Peter StratfordPeter Stratford

Managing Director, Farnham Product Development Centre

Peter Stratford was appointed to the Board in September 2002. Peter joined Biocompatibles in January 1990. After completion of development work in contact lens application, he joined the management team of the Cardiovascular Division at its creation in 1993. He took the role of Group Director Research and Development in 1998 and has since transitioned the group to the current drug delivery focus. Peter has a BSc in Chemistry, a MSc in Polymer Synthesis and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Synthesis.  Age 44.

John SylvestorJohn Sylvester

Managing Director, International

John Sylvester joined the Company in June 2005 and was appointed to the Board on 1 July 2005. His career covers a series of commercial roles for Rio Tinto Zinc plc, ICI plc and English China Clays where he was General Manager for their European and Asian Operations. Previously he was with Baxter Healthcare where he was VP Marketing for their European Medication delivery business.  Age 44.

Anthony WeirAnthony Weir

Independent Non-Executive Director

Tony Weir was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2007. Tony is Chief Financial Officer of Vernalis plc, a position he has held since 1999 having joined that company in 1990. Previously Tony was with Cooper Deloitte, Financial Training Limited and KPMG. He has a degree in Mathematics from Oxford University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.  Age 47.