NetScientific (LON:NSCI) has added some heavyweight medical and commercialisation expertise to its board with the appointment of Professor Stephen Smith as a non-executive director.
Professor Smith has had a long and distinguished career as a clinician scientist, head of department, dean and chief executive officer (CEO) with the Medical Research Council, University of Cambridge, Imperial College, London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, NetScientific said.
He was responsible for the largest merger in the National Health Service (NHS), which saw four London-based NHS Trusts amalgamating and ultimately led to the creation of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where Smith served for four years as the first CEO. He also retained his position as dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College, London and was responsible for facilitating the commercialisation of life sciences and healthcare.
Professor Smith has launched two companies on the back of research at the University of Cambridge: Metris Therapeutics and GNI. The latter was set-up in 2001 and floated on the Tokyo stock exchange in 2007.
"Stephen's impressive leadership experience in mergers and commercialisation internationally further strengthens the group. We look forward to welcoming Stephen to the team as we continue to build our subsidiary companies towards developing new technologies and concepts in healthcare management and diagnostics to improve patient care and outcomes," said Sir Richard Sykes, chairman of NetScientific.