Alastair Riddell, Non-executive Chairman
- Significant Board level experience in building companies and providing exits for shareholders
- Raised over £100m in VC rounds, private placements, IPOs and trade sales
- Over 25 years experience in pharmaceutical, biotech and life sciences industries, including 15 years in senior sales, marketing and general management roles
- 10 years experience in directing Phase I-IV clinical trials of mAbs and anti-cancer agents for Lederle, Celltech, Centocor and Amersham International
David Livesley, Non-executive Director
- Experienced venture capital fund manager with over 20 years experience working with start up and early stage technology businesses
- Currently Investment Director at YFM Equity Partners where he works on the Yorkshire & Humber Equity Fund, Partnership Investment Finance and the South Yorkshire Investment Fund
- Prior to joining YFM, he was at Cambridge Consultants Limited where he provided strategic and technical consultancy for both multinational and SME clients including development of new products and manufacturing processes
- Extensive international sales and marketing experience
Tony Robards, Non-executive Director
- With an academic career at the University of York spanning more than 40 years, he has published over 130 scientific papers and books in pure and applied biological research for which he was awarded a D.Sc. by the University of London
- Past President of the Royal Microscopical Society and served for 8 years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations at the University of York and, more latterly, as HSBC’s Chair of Innovation
- Central figure in enterprise and entrepreneurship in Yorkshire for many years, acting as the interface between the University of York with businesses, the City and the Region. Awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2002 for "Services to Higher Education" arising from his work to link the University of York with the local business community
- At the heart of many initiatives to stimulate innovation in the region, including as a co-founder of Science City York and the founder of Venturefest Yorkshire; past President of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; non-executive director of a number of public and private sector companies
Paul Duffen, Non-executive Director
- Started his career with Procter & Gamble in a sales and marketing role, before joining distribution company P J Holloway (Sales) Ltd where he was appointed Marketing Director and played a key role in the sale of the business to Browne and Tawse plc in 1985.
- Subsequently held the position of Managing Director at two private companies and later started his own management consultancy business which from 1997 focused on the sport, broadcast and internet sectors.
- In 1999 co-founded Newsplayer Ltd (later renamed Catalyst Media Group plc) and led its the successful flotation on AIM in May 2000. CMG is a media company which exploited rights to television and cinema content, particularly live sport, through its GMS subsidiary in New York and its investment in Satellite Information Services (SIS) in the UK. Paul sat on the Board of SIS Holdings Ltd, the parent company of SIS. In the USA he also served as Chairman of Betelgeuse Productions Inc, the largest independent post-production house in New York. Under his leadership over 7 years CMG was very active in the M&A field and successfully raised over £75m in debt and equity to enable various transactions on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Left CMG in December 2006 to concentrate on the acquisition of Hull City Football Club and the related stadium management company, SMC Ltd, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive of both companies. In 2008 Hull City gained promotion to the Premier League and enjoyed a record breaking start to their first top flight campaign. During his tenure the club’s annual turnover grew from £14m to £52m, generating over £7m profit.
- In 2009 founded and serves as Chairman of GlooWorld Ltd, a digital media business focused on delivering live television over the Internet by employing patented technology. He also sits on the Board of markettiers4DC, the leading broadcast PR agency.
Mick McLean, CEO, Executive Director
Norman Maitland, CSO, Executive Director
John Knights, CFO, Executive Director
