OptiBiotix Health PLC (LON:OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skincare, has said it intends to appoint experienced pharma executive Christopher Brinsmead as a non-executive director, subject to the completion of regulatory due diligence being carried out by the company's Nomad.
The firm noted that Brinsmead has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 30 years, holding executive leadership roles with ICI, and Zeneca, before becoming chairman of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals UK, President of AstraZeneca UK and Ireland (2001-2010), and President of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) from 2008-2010.
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Since leaving executive roles, he has taken on a number of advisory and non-executive eirector positions in private and public companies. Advisory positions include independent advisor to the UK prime minister and other senior government ministers for life sciences (2010-2017) and advisor to Sodexo Healthcare (2010-2017). Brinsmead is currently the chairman of two companies - Scapa PLC and Proveca Ltd, and is a member of council at Imperial College.
Other non-executive positions at include UDG Healthcare PLC (2017-2019) and chairman of Consort Medical PLC (2019-2020), a FTSE 350 company which was sold during his leadership to Recipharm for £505mln in February 2020. Chris was Chairman of Collagen Solutions PLC from 2019 to 2020, leading its sale to Rosen's Diversified Inc.
The group said Brinsmead will replace Peter Wennstrom as a director of the company on confirmation of his appointment. Wennstrom will continue in an advisory capacity for the company following his resignation from the board.
In a statement, Neil Davidson, chairman of OptiBiotix commented: "Chris's appointment reflects the continued evolution of the Board as the Company moves into the next phase of its development with its next-generation. products, and explores a potential dual listing on international markets. Chris's pharmaceutical, healthcare, investment experience, and Chairmanship of a FTSE 350 company complements the current Boards wealth of experience.
"The Board of OptiBiotix would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter for his advice on brand strategy and helping OptiBiotix position its SlimBiome ® , LPLDL® and WellBiome ® brands in international markets, and his contribution to the Company's development.
"The Company anticipate that there will be further additions and changes to the Board and management teams as it continues to grow sales, expand into international markets and commercialises its next-generation products. "