Board Appointments and new members see BIA grow in strength

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has today appointed Harren Jhoti and Will West to its Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting. In addition, Allan Marchington, has been re-appointed to the Board. The new and re-elected Board members will serve from1 January 2013 for a term of two years.

Tim Edwards, BIA Chairman, said:

"I would like to welcome our new Board members and congratulate our re-elected Board member. As a result of these appointments, I believe our Board continues to broaden its outlook and experience, and I look forward to working with them and the BIA team to ensure the UK remains a world-leading location for the life sciences.

"I would also like to thank Andrew Heath and Dominique Klein who are standing down at the end of the year for their service to the BIA and its members."

The new Board appointments follow the arrival of new BIA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Bates, who joined the BIA in July and presented at the AGM.

Commenting on his first few weeks at the BIA, Steve Bates, BIA Chief Executive Officer, said:

"I am delighted to see there has been a pipeline of new companies joining the BIA during the last 12 months. Companies such as Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd, F Star, Horizon Discovery Ltd, PolyTherics Ltd and Prosonix Ltd represent the next generation of UK bioscience. I am sure that the opportunity provided by the BIA for these companies to interact with our service provider members will help them become successful more quickly.

"Additionally, it is great that global life science players show their support for the UK bioscience sector through their membership of the BIA. To this end I am particularly pleased to welcome AstraZeneca and MSD to the membership in the last twelve months."

"It is essential for companies wherever they fit in the life sciences ecosystem to join our vibrant association."