Chairman: Mark Kirby, BSc
From 1982, Mark took Profile Therapeutics/Medic-Aid Ltd via MBO, which he led, to a stock market flotation (raising £27.5m against a market cap of £81m) and subsequent trade sale in 2004. Profile Therapeutics was until July 2004 a publicly listed company involved in the development and commercialization of specialist inhaled pharmaceutical therapies and drug delivery systems to improve the treatment of respiratory patients. As well as chairing Glide Pharma, Mark is Chairman of Eykona Technologies, which is developing 3D imaging products for healthcare markets; Chairman of Prosurgics, which has developed a hands-free laproscopic camera controller for surgeons; and Non-Executive Director of Nigaard A/S, a Norwegian specialty pharmaceutical company.
Chief Executive Officer: Ian Smith, MSc PhD
Ian has nearly 30 years’ experience in the drug delivery industry. Previously, he has led the inhalation and device product development groups at both Glaxo and Pfizer. He was also Head of Medical Device Development at PA Consulting and R&D Director at Andaris. In 2001, he founded drug delivery company Meridica and led the organization as CEO until 2004, when it was acquired by Pfizer and valued at $140 million. Most recently, Ian was Director of H12 Consulting, which provides strategic advice to industry and investors on drug delivery technologies.
Chief Business Officer: Charles Potter, MA PhD
Charles is the inventor of the Glide technology and founder of Glide Pharma. He holds an engineering degree and PhD from Cambridge University. Charles spent six years undertaking research within the Transplant Unit at Papworth Hospital, a specialist cardiothoracic centre, where he gained extensive medical experience. Charles has worked in four other successful start-up companies including nearly six years at PowderJect Pharmaceuticals where he saw the company grow from just five employees to over 1000.
Non-Executive Director: Fraser Skirrow, MA MBA
Fraser is CEO of MedInnovate Ltd, a UK based company that works with Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies helping them achieve major improvements in patient care whilst creating significant returns for founders, employees and investors. Previously, he spent 15 years working at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) including five years as a Partner. After a wide experience of consulting in the engineering and aerospace industries, and Government, he specialized in performance improvement in pharmaceutical R&D. He has managed post merger integration in large development organizations and created capabilities for biotech and small technology companies. He has consulted to, and invested in small medical and technology companies bringing innovative products to market.
Non-Executive Director: James Otter, MA MBA
James has considerable experience in the bioscience sector and was CEO of OBS Medical and Hallmarq Veterinary and a main board director of Spectris plc. James spent much of his early career in international commercial positions with Zeneca. He chairs Hygea VCT, a fund specialising in bioscience investments which is a shareholder in Glide Pharma as well as Octopus VCT. James has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD.
Company Secretary: Vanessa Young, ACMA MAAT
Vanessa is a qualified accountant who gained previous pharma experience at Novartis Vaccines and Viropharma Ltd.
