CONCEPT LIFE SCIENCES - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• in 2018 As VP Operations
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Dr Ben Cliff joined Concept Life Sciences in 2018 as VP Operations and has held both commercial and operational roles in the Company as the business has evolved. Most recently Ben has headed up operational delivery, supporting the business with strategic leadership across our service divisions to ensure quality execution and that the business is positioned for future growth. Ben brings a wealth of leadership experience in the CRO industry within the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and specialty chemical sector. His experience covers all aspects of the business including Operations, Sales and Marketing, Quality and Strategy.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer
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Dr David Leese is responsible for the day-to-day operational running of Concept Life Sciences, ensuring that the business has the resources required to allow it to build on the expertise of its scientists and continue to deliver to our clients' needs. David has over 20 years of experience working in the CRO sector, starting his career at the bench, then leading multiple projects for a variety of clients before moving onto a number of leadership roles. He holds a PhD in organic chemistry, an MBA and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Job Titles:

• Director of CMC Services
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
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Dr. David Fengas, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), joined Peakdale in 2010, which later merged into Concept Life Sciences in 2014. Currently serving as the CMC Services Director and Site Lead in Sandwich, David has emerged as a key influencer in Chemistry, particularly in advancing Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) services. His leadership and vision have established him as a pivotal figure, overseeing crucial functions within his role. Throughout his distinguished career, David's relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation earned him FRSC status, a prestigious recognition reflecting his outstanding contributions to the scientific community. As the Site Lead in Sandwich, his leadership style combines strategic thinking, technical acumen, and a deep understanding of CMC intricacies, fostering a collaborative work environment. Beyond his leadership role, David continues to contribute to the field through research, publications, and mentorship. His commitment to pushing scientific boundaries and inspiring others solidifies his legacy as a respected trailblazer in the world of CMC services.

Job Titles:

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• Senior Director, Head of Europe Sales

Gareth who joined Concept Life Sciences in 2019 is a positive and adaptable leader who is eager to leverage the strengths of individuals, ensuring that teams produce results greater than the sum of their parts. His success lies in engaging senior decision makers in government and business, contributing to shaping markets through industry associations and customer collaboration. He graduated with a degree in Marine Biology from Liverpool University, with the unique experience of completing the third year of the course at an excellent Marine Research Centre in the Isle of Man. Complementing his academic background, Gareth holds a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and an internationally accredited master's in business administration from the Open University. As a Six Sigma Black Belt and Prince2® Practitioner, he is committed to lifelong learning and relishes the diverse interactions with customers and the scientific team, approaching each day as an opportunity to learn. With over 35 years of experience in Health Care Sales, Marketing, and Business Development Leadership across various industries, including Pharmaceuticals, Advanced Wound Care, and Drug Delivery, Gareth is passionate about making a difference. His goal is to contribute to improving patients' quality of life and delivering positive outcomes for service providers. Gareth's areas of expertise include strategic planning, where he leverages over two decades of experience to anticipate market trends, identify opportunities, and effectively mitigate risks. He excels in situational leadership and performance coaching, adapting his approach to different contexts and individuals to empower teams for peak performance and innovation. His strategic key account management focuses on building mutual growth through partnerships founded on trust and value. Gareth is also skilled in system and process optimization, enhancing productivity by fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Additionally, he champions inclusivity and teamwork, aiming to develop high-performance teams through collaborative efforts.

Job Titles:

• Head of Translational Biology
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I am a dedicated and enthusiastic biologist driven by the art of problem-solving and building efficient solutions. I thrive in dynamic environments, tackling challenges head-on, developing strategies to drive efficiency and growth. I earned my Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Edinburgh. My research during my doctoral studies allowed me an insight into building model systems for drug discovery and development, which laid the groundwork for the early stages in my career at a University CRO Spin out, Aquila BioMedical. At Concept Life Sciences, I have the privilege of leading a team of passionate scientists, spanning diverse disciplines, to deliver cutting-edge projects for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the pursuit of novel therapies for diseases such as Cancer and Alzheimer's, with the potential to impact the lives of millions worldwide.

Job Titles:

• Site Director
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Joanna is a highly experienced, motivated, and well-organized individual who thrives in both team and individual work settings, united towards achieving common goals. Possessing an inquisitive mind, adaptability, and lateral thinking skills, she actively seeks opportunities for continuous improvement to enhance processes and establish an optimal working environment for all. Having earned a BSc (Hons) in Biology with Sport Science from the University of Surrey, Joanna's dissertation delved into the 'Effect of Exercise on Lipoprotein profiles analyzing Elite, Moderate, and Sedentary sectors of the population.' In her previous roles at various companies, she acquired extensive experience in accredited laboratory settings, including Forensic UKAS accredited labs to ISO17025, CRO labs to ISO13485, and Biosafety testing Labs (GMP, GLP), along with management of Clinical trial setups adhering to GCP regulations. She has successfully managed challenging projects, applying her scientific knowledge and laboratory skills to ensure quality outcomes and customer satisfaction. Her dedication extends to areas such as lab expansions, managing large service delivery teams, implementing process improvements, and ensuring compliance with the highest industry standards. Joanna's areas of expertise include proficiency in Molecular Biology, designing and executing assays for viral pathogens in Biosafety testing and proficiency testing; product development for Molecular and Immunological products for global markets (EU, FDA, APAC); expertise in GMP, GCP, GLP compliance to guarantee the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products; adept at process optimization to streamline operations, reduce costs, and accelerate client turnaround times; and fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge in teamwork..

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
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Jonathan Critchley leads the Finance function, offering financial and strategic guidance to facilitate the business's growth. A Chartered Accountant with Deloitte training, Jonathan brings extensive experience, having served as CFO for Envair Technology, a Private Equity-backed Pharmaceutical Engineering/Manufacturing business. Before that, he held the position of Finance Director at NRG Fleet Services.

Job Titles:

• Head of US Sales
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Job Titles:

• Chemistry Site Director
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Mark is responsible for the delivery of our non-CMC chemistry services, including our Discovery Chemistry FTE projects, stand-alone fee-for-service synthesis campaigns and our ADME services. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Chapel-en-le-Frith site, ensuring we have the best people and resources to deliver for our clients. Mark has been with Concept Life Sciences since 2005, starting his career as a lab-based Chemist leading project teams that were integrated within our customer's drug discovery programmes. He subsequently held both scientific and operational leadership positions within CLS. Mark�s scientific background is in organic chemistry. He gained his PhD from the University of Cambridge and then continued in academia for a further three years, working as a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester with a special interest in stereochemistry, atropisomerism and organolithium chemistry. After joining Concept, Mark developed an expertise in nucleosides and antivirals - he was the lead author of an influential review of methods to synthesise 4�susbtituted nucleosides and has presented his work on nucleoside syntheses at international conferences.

Job Titles:

• Chief Commercial Officer
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Mick Mellor-Clark joins us from PathoQuest, where he was Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, he has led the definition and execution of a new commercial strategy for the company - driving a renewed focus on GMP biosafety testing and driving the success of this company. Prior to PathoQuest, Mick was at BioReliance (a leading CRO in biologics biosafety and analytical testing) for 20 years. In that time, the company grew from a start-up based in Glasgow to a strategic business unit and global brand as part of Merck KGaA. Whilst at BioReliance, Mick drove change and growth for the organisation. He developed and led functions including Strategic Partnership Accounts, Global Key Accounts, European Sales and Asia Pacific Sales. Mick started his career in Commercial Development at Inveresk Research (now Charles River Tranent). He holds an Honours Degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Edinburgh, and has completed the General Management Program at the Cranfield School of Management.

Job Titles:

• Head of Medicinal Chemistry

Thomas joined the company in 2017 as a Group Leader and was promoted to Head of Medicinal Chemistry in 2021. He has gained over 15 years' experience of leading drug discovery programmes in the academic, biotech and CRO sectors, and contributed to the development of multiple clinical candidates and marketed drugs. His scientific expertise spans a wide range of therapeutic areas (oncology, immuno-oncology, fibrosis and neurosciences) and target classes (kinases, enzymes, GPCRs, ion channels) at all stages of the drug discovery process. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Thomas has authored over 35 publications, reviews and patents in the field of drug discovery, synthetic chemistry and enzymology.