The Board and Senior Executive Team

Committee Membership

Nomination (Chair) and Remuneration.

Skills and Experience

Alison has extensive international and leadership experience in customer-driven organisations in the healthcare, insurance and property sectors. 

Background

Alison joined the Board in March 2020 and was appointed as Chair in January 2022. She served as the CEO of Countrywide between 2014 and 2018. Prior to this Alison held various positions at Bupa (1993 to 2014). She was Chair of Opportunity Now between 2010 and 2012 and a Non-Executive Director at Cable and Wireless Communications PLC between 2012 and 2016.

Alison was awarded a CMG for services to the Foreign Office in 2011 after six years on the FCO Board.

External Appointments

Alison is a Non-Executive Director at Tesco PLC.

Committee Membership

Disclosure (Chairman).

Skills and Experience

Ian has gained detailed knowledge and experience through various positions he has held within the pharmaceutical and veterinary arena. He has a solid understanding of business development both in the UK and globally. In particular he has extensive experience in M&A and in the successful delivery of strategic plans.

Background

Ian joined NVS, Dechra’s former services business, at its formation in 1989 and was an integral part of the management buyout in 1997, becoming its Managing Director in 1998. He joined the Board in 1997 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2001. Ian has played a key role in the development of the Group’s growth strategy.

External Appointments

None.

Committee Membership

Disclosure.

Skills and Experience

Paul qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2005. He spent five years post qualification at KPMG, during which time he was part of the team which advised the Group on its acquisition of VetXX in 2008. Paul joined Dechra in January 2010 and has worked both in Corporate as Group Financial Controller and in our sales and marketing organisation as the Group’s Dechra Veterinary Products EU Finance Director. Paul is the Board nominated Director responsible for health, safety and environmental matters.

Background

Paul joined Dechra in January 2010 as the Group Financial Controller of Dechra and Finance Director of Dechra Laboratory Services. Between 2012 and 2013 Paul was Acting Chief Financial Officer prior to becoming the Group’s Dechra Veterinary Products EU Finance Director in April 2015. Paul was appointed as Acting Chief Financial Officer on 3 April 2019 and was appointed as an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Company on 30 October 2019.

External Appointments

None.

Committee Membership

Not applicable.

Skills and Experience

Tony has over 30 years’ experience in the animal health business and has substantial international experience as a result of living and working outside the UK since 1993. He gained broad experience of running an international animal health business with teams in different European countries as Chief Executive Officer of the AUV Group. 

Background

Tony was appointed Managing Director of DVP EU in May 2012 following the acquisition of Eurovet Animal Health BV from AUV Holding B.V. He joined the AUV Group in 1993 as Director of Exports, having previously worked at Norbrook Laboratories and Moy Park. Tony was promoted to Managing Director of Eurovet in 1996, becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the AUV Group in 2006.

External Appointments

None.

Committee Membership

Audit, Nomination and Remuneration.

Skills and Experience

Lawson is a veterinarian, with over 30 years experience in a range of senior roles in pharmaceutical R&D, sales and marketing, as well as spending several years in veterinary practices.

Background

Lawson joined the Board in December 2016. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Ambrx Inc. between 2013 and 2015, and prior to that led emerging business for Shire PLC. Lawson was with GSK from 1999 to 2011. His final role at GSK was to lead the strategic marketing, outcomes and reimbursement, project management and portfolio teams. Lawson has a PhD in viral pathobiology and is a pathologist, holding Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists as well as Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

External Appointments

Lawson has been the Chairman of Viking Therapeutics Inc. since 2015, as well as the Chairman of the Nomination and Corporate Governance.

Committee Membership

Audit, Nomination and Remuneration.

Skills and Experience

Lisa has strategic and operational leadership experience in global market leading pharmaceutical and emerging biotech companies gained over her 30 year career in the industry.

Background

Lisa joined the Board in February 2019. She served as President International, and previously Chief Commercial and Corporate Affairs Officer of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of novel therapeutics until January 2021. Prior to this, Lisa held various Vice President roles at Gilead Sciences, Inc and GlaxoSmithKline plc, in Regional General Management, Government Affairs, and sales and marketing.

External Appointments

Lisa is also a Non-Executive Director at Ascendis Pharma A/S.

Committee Membership

Audit (Chair), Nomination and Remuneration.

Skills and Experience

John has considerable financial and commercial experience as a result of senior financial roles he has held in engineering, technology and beverage sectors over the last 20 years.  He also has valuable experience leading innovative, high growth international companies.   

Background

John joined the Board in June 2022. He was Chief Financial Officer at FTSE100 Smiths Group PLC from January 2018 to April 2022.  Prior to this, for 12 years he was Chief Financial Officer for Dyson, the diversified global technology company where he was part of the team that led its international growth, particularly in Asia.  His previous experience includes a number of senior finance and strategy roles over 13 years at Diageo plc, including Finance Director for its Iberia region and Chief Financial Officer of Schieffelin & Somerset, a US joint venture between Diageo and LVMH. John is a Chartered Accountant and has an MBA from INSEAD.

External Appointments

None. 

Committee Membership

Audit, Nomination and Remuneration (Chair).

Skills and Experience

Geeta has a breadth of Non-Executive Director experience as well as chairing risk, audit and remuneration committees since 2017. She has over 25 years of experience of financial services and retail banking, particularly payments and digital innovation. Geeta is a Chartered Accountant.   

Background

Geeta joined the Board in January 2023. Previously, she was a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Ultra Electronic Holdings Plc, and a member of the Remuneration Committee of VocaLink. Geeta also served as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee at Wizink Bank SA. She was formerly Executive Chair of Monitise Europe, and Vice Chair of the Big Lottery Fund England. Prior to these roles, Geeta was Director of Payment Services with HBOS plc and previously Managing Director, UK Retail Bank and Business Development Head EMEA at Citigroup.

External Appointments

Geeta is a Non-Executive Director and the Chair of the Risk Committee of Virgin Money UK plc, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Funding Circle Holdings Plc and a Non-Executive Director of Clydesdale Bank plc. Geeta is a Trustee of the Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000.

Mike joined Dechra in 2004 and is responsible for Dechra Veterinary Products’ North American business. Mike has more than 20 years’ experience in the animal health sector, having held senior positions in business development, sales and operations at Virbac Corporation, Fort Dodge Animal Health and Sanofi Animal Health. As our first employee in the USA, he has built the USA and Canadian team to 414 people. Mike has also been involved in several commercial agreements and acquisitions for the Group including Pharmaderm, DermaPet, Phycox Animal Health and Putney. Mike has a BA in Business, and an MBA. He is located in Kansas, USA.

Katy joined Dechra in April 2014 from AppSense Ltd where she was the Vice President of HR Europe and Rest of the World. With over 15 years operating at Director level within Software, Health, Travel and Finance industries, Katy brings with her a wealth of HR expertise gained in both blue chip corporates and smaller entrepreneurial companies. She has strong international, leadership and M&A experience and has taken responsibility for driving the global people agenda for the Dechra Group. She is located at Head Office, Northwich, UK.

Giles joined Dechra in January 1999 as sales and marketing manager for Arnolds Veterinary Products having previously spent 14 years primarily involved in dairy farming business consultancy. During his time at Dechra he has been responsible for the launch and market development of our leading brand Vetoryl, as well as a number of our other key brands. Giles has also been an integral member of the teams that ensured fast and smooth integrations of several of our acquisitions, and in particular as lead in the integration of Apex in 2016 and Venco in 2019. In his role of Dechra Veterinary Products International Group Director, his responsibilities are extremely varied and involve managing and growing our existing business through ANZ and Latin American business and distribution partners, as well as further developing our Dechra International strategy through product registrations and market development. Giles has a BSc degree in Agricultural Technology. He is located in Sansaw, UK.

Milton was appointed as Group Manufacturing & Supply Director on 1 April 2021, following 11 months as Interim Group Manufacturing & Supply Director.  He joined Dechra in January 2016 as Group Manufacturing Finance Director. In February 2019, he was the Interim Site Director at our Skipton Facility until being appointed as Group Supply Chain and Procurement Director, Dechra Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing & Supply in October 2019 .

Before joining Dechra, Milton had senior financial roles in different manufacturing industries including  coatings, adhesives  and chemicals. Just prior to joining Dechra he worked for Aramark in the food and facilities services sector.

Milton is responsible for our internal and external manufacturing sites in Europe and the USA.

He is located in Northwich, UK

Committee membership: Disclosure

Melanie joined Dechra in January 2010 as the Assistant Company Secretary, and was promoted to Deputy Company Secretary in May 2015 and Company Secretary in July 2017. Prior to joining Dechra she has gained over 25 years’ experience in various company secretarial roles including at GKN plc, TRW Automotive Inc and Pendragon PLC.  Melanie is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Melanie is responsible for the Company Secretarial and Legal team. She is located at Head Office, Northwich, UK.

Patrick joined Dechra in July 2022, and has over 30 years’ experience in animal health covering vaccine, small molecule and diagnostics product development across all animal species, large and small. He also brings substantial international experience having lived and worked in academia and industry on four different continents. Prior to moving into industry he spent time doing research and teaching at the University of Zambia, the Tropical Institute of Antwerp (Belgium) and the University of Florida (US). In 2004 Patrick joined Pfizer Animal Health, now Zoetis, where he led a wide range of teams, projects and strategic initiatives from early discovery through product development and launch. He also led regional R&D hubs in Latin America and APAC for Zoetis, before joining Elanco in 2018 as the Senior/Executive Director of Companion Animal Product Development.

Patrick has a Veterinary Degree from the University of Gent (Belgium), a PhD in Infectious Diseases from the University of Florida (USA) and was a founding Diplomate of both the European Veterinary Parasitology College and the American College of Veterinary Microbiologist-Parasitology.

Patrick is currently based in Basel Switzerland within close proximity of Dechra’s UK, Croatian and Netherland’s teams.

Jamie joined Dechra in June 2022 as Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining, he held the same role for Scapa plc, a global healthcare and industrial products group and has gained over 25 years’ experience in various IT leadership roles in largescale pharmaceutical & medical device organisations including Smith & Nephew and AstraZeneca.

Jamie leads the global IT team and is responsible for IT Strategy development and execution, including all IT change & innovation activity as well as core IT service provision. He has an MBA from Durham University and a BSc (Hons) degree in Business & IT from Northumbria University.

He is located at Head Office, Northwich, UK.