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Ed Torr, Independent Non-Executive Chairman
Appointment:
Ed was appointed to the Board in 2017 and was appointed Chairman on 20 June 2024 following Jan Boone’s resignation.
Committee membership:
Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and member of the Remuneration & Nomination Committee.
Relevant skills and experience:
As Chair, Ed brings significant experience of business development and product development in the animal health sector.
He was part of the management buyout team that set up Dechra Veterinary Products in 1997 and an Executive Director on the board of Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc from 2000 until 2013, responsible for business development and managing the European business unit and instrumental in setting up the US business. Since 2014, Ed has independently advised various companies on sales and marketing structures, M&A opportunities, “in” and “out” licensing of products and investment opportunities within the veterinary and animal health sector.
Key external appointments:
Ed was a Non-Executive Director of Intervacc AB, a Swedish biotechnology company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, until 23 November 2023.
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Jennifer Winter, Chief Executive Officer
Appointment:
Jennifer was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Group in 2018.
Committee membership:
N/A; attends some Committee meetings by invitation.
Responsibilities, relevant skills and experience:
As CEO, Jennifer has responsibility for developing and executing the Group’s strategy as approved by the Board and drives the performance and results of the Group. She manages Group operations in conjunction with the Leadership Team. With her background in the healthcare sector, including senior commercial roles at AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, Jennifer brings significant experience of product development, change management, marketing and communications.
She was a Non-Executive Director of Allied Irish Bank from 2004 to 2010, and Chief Executive Officer of Barretstown from 2003 to 2007, transforming it into a successful, leading children’s charity.
Jennifer has a BSc in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Southampton.
Key external appointments:
Jennifer is a Non-Executive Director of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc and a Trustee Director and Chair of the Trustees of Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.
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Chris Brewster, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Appointment:
Chris was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2012.
Committee membership:
N/A; attends the Audit and Risk Committee by invitation.
Responsibilities, relevant skills and experience:
Since joining Animalcare in 2012, Chris has gained significant animal health sector experience and works alongside Jennifer in developing and executing the Group strategy. His responsibilities cover finance, risk management, Group IT and legal. Chris is the Board member responsible for Sustainability.
Chris is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified with KPMG in 2003. Before joining Animalcare he worked as Group Accounting Manager at Findus.
Key external appointments:
None
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Marc Coucke, Non-Executive Director
Appointment:
Marc was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in 2017.
Committee membership:
N/A
Responsibilities, relevant skills and experience:
As a Non-Executive Director, Marc brings significant experience of maximising value creation and developing strategy. Marc founded Omega Pharma NV in 1987, developing the company into a leading pan-European OTC health and personal care business and serving as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Following the sale of Omega Pharma in 2015, he invested, via his private investment firm Alychlo NV, in several listed and non-listed companies.
Key external appointments:
Marc currently serves as Non-Executive Director of Smartphoto Group NV, a Belgian company, in addition to a number of private companies.
Alternate Director
On 10 December 2024, Els Degroote was appointed to act as Marc’s alternate director in the event of his absence from certain Board meetings. Marc remains a Non-Executive Director and is expected to be involved in key Board decisions.
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Dr Doug Hutchens, Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment:
Doug was appointed to the Board on 10 February 2022.
Committee membership:
Chair of Remuneration & Nomination Committee and member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Responsibilities, relevant skills and experience:
Doug has held several senior positions in research and development (R&D) and regulatory affairs at leading global animal health companies. As part of the executive team at Bayer Animal Health, he was an Executive Vice President and Chief Veterinary Officer where he led both drug discovery and product development on a global basis.
Before joining the animal health pharmaceutical industry, Doug was an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine where he conducted studies for most of the major animal health companies and participated in the development of multiple new products for companion and production animals. Early in his career, he was a practising veterinarian. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a PhD in pathobiology with an emphasis in immuno-parasitology from the University of Illinois.
Key external appointments:
Doug is Chief Scientific Officer at Animol Discovery, Inc in the US and on the advisory board of ClinGlobal Limited, which is based in Mauritius.
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Sylvia Metayer, Senior Independent Director
Appointment:
Sylvia was appointed to the Board on 3 May 2022.
Committee membership:
Chair of Audit & Risk Committee and member of the Remuneration & Nomination Committee.
Responsibilities, relevant skills and experience:
After beginning her career as an auditor, Sylvia has gone on to build a highly successful career, initially holding key financial roles in leading international organisations and then in customer-focused commercial senior leadership roles, most recently at Sodexo. She joined Sodexo in 2006 as Group Financial Controller and was appointed CFO for Europe in 2008, President International Large Accounts in 2010, and CEO of Sodexo’s Corporate Services Worldwide segment, the largest business in Sodexo in 2014. Before joining Sodexo, Sylvia was COO at Houghton Mifflin, a Boston-based educational publisher. Sylvia gained a business degree from the French École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) and is a graduate of both Queen’s University, Canada and of the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Key external appointments:
Sylvia is an independent Non-Executive Director for PageGroup plc, and an independent Non-Executive of Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris SA), chairing their Nomination and Remuneration Committees. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Keolis, SAS and Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee.
