Our Board

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

Mick McLean, CEO

• 20+ years in the biotechnology industry with leadership roles in the US, UK and EU
• Former President of Avecia Biotechnology (Boston, MA) and CEO of Oligovax (Paris); currently Chairman for Link Technologies Limited (Glasgow)
• Track record of leading organisations through change and rapid growth, negotiating deals and raising money

Norman Maitland, CSO

• Professor of Molecular Biology (University of York) and Director of the YCR Cancer Research Unit
• Past Chairman of the European Society for Basic Urological Research and the British Prostate Group, member of the MRC College of Experts
• Coordinator for, or participant in, EU collaborative projects in prostate cancer totalling >€20m

John Knights, CFO

• Highly experienced Finance Director and business professional in the telecommunications sector, with responsibility for collection of >£15bn in revenue
• Former FD of BT’s Business Division (including responsibility for O2 and Yell), and CEO for Argensys Limited
• Track record of developing and implementing effective business processes

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

David Milroy, Non-executive Director

• Part of the management buy-out of Aberdeen Asset Management’s Private Equity division to form Maven Capital Partners in 2009
• Responsible for the White Rose Seed Fund and Maven’s portfolio of technology companies
• Serves on the Boards of PLM Dollar Helicopters, PrismTech Group, Essential Viewing Systems and Asterion
• Prior to joining Aberdeen Asset Management, he was responsible for identifying investment opportunities at the unique innovation fund, ITI and before that he was a successful consultant at leading international energy and life science consultancy firm, Wood Mackenzie
• Started career as a scientist with GlaxoSmithKline

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 Group 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