Bionow Announces Appointment of 4 New Directors

Bionow is delighted that Emma Banks, Kris Matykiewicz, Martino Picardo and Mark Hollingworth will be joining the Bionow Board with effect from 22nd March 2018. 

Emma Banks is CEO of North East based Datatrial, and has over 20 years of experience with data collection, reporting and technology in the clinical trials sector. Emma began work in medical research earning a PhD in Immunology from the University of Liverpool. After two years of post-doctoral research, Emma joined a small biometrics CRO (Statwood/Quanticate) leading the data management team. Emma has developed a strong reputation in the industry having been a board member of the Association of Clinical Data Management (ACDM), is currently on the board of trustees for the Society of Clinical Data Management (SCDM), has attended and spoken at a number of conferences both nationally and internationally and is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for BioPartner. In addition, Emma is a member of the North East LEP Skills Board and of the North East Life Sciences Working Group developing a life sciences strategy for the region. 

Kris Matykiewicz recently retired from The University of Manchester, which he joined in November 2011 to lead a new Business Engagement team to develop and implement an integrated business engagement plan supporting the University’s overall vision and objectives. He was responsible for developing the University’s partnerships with business, whether large multinationals or SMEs from the UK and overseas. He was the University’s member of the Bionow SAB. Previously, he had a 30 year career in ICI, Zeneca and AstraZeneca in strategic marketing, business development and general management in many business units from commodity & effect chemicals to pharmaceuticals, working worldwide. Latterly, he was mainly involved with research and early development of new drugs and drug discovery platform technologies, especially biopharmaceuticals, including academic collaborations, licensing and mergers and acquisitions. 

Martino is now an Independent Consultant, based in Manchester. He currently has a part-time role as Entrepreneur in Residence at UMIP, Manchester. In addition, Martino is working part-time with the NHS in Manchester, also as an entrepreneur in residence. From June 2011- July 2017, Martino was the first CEO of the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst an ambitious concept to develop an Incubator and Accelerator, followed by a world class Science Park for the Life Sciences sector. Martino has a PhD in Biochemistry from Cardiff University and spent 4 years at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX in Cardiovascular research. Martino joined Amersham International in 1991 and subsequently went on to manage the R&D Technology Transfer Group, based in Cardiff and developing high throughput screening technologies for the Pharmaceutical sector. Following the merger of Amersham with Pharmacia Biotech, Martino became the Science Director for the Cardiff site, Martino then became a Business Manager for Manchester Biotech Ltd. and subsequently Manchester Innovation Ltd. in June 1999. When the Universities of Manchester and UMIST merged, he became Managing Director of UMIC and MICL and is also currently a Board member of UKBI. Martino was also acting Chairman for a start-up company, sri Forensics Ltd (2011-2014) and has previously been on the Board of Cartesian Technologies , Bionow Steering Committee and was also a non -executive Director for Queen Mary Bioenterprise Ltd (2009-Aug 2010).. Martino has also been a Board member of the Hertfordshire LEP. Most recently, Martino has been on the Trust Board for the North Herts Studio Schools (Stevenage, Letchworth and Thomas Alleyne Schools) and on the Local Governing Body for the Da Vinci Studio School Stevenage. Martino was also appointed to the Life Science Wales Hub Board as a Non –Executive), from 2014-2017. Martino is involved in funding application and appraisals for Innovate UK, Astia and NC3Rs. Most recently, Martino was appointed to the Board of BIONOW, the Northern Trade Organization for Life Sciences, as a non- Executive Director. 

Mark Hollingworth is Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and a Portfolio Finance Director with over 17 years post qualified experience. Mark brings a wealth of pharma industry, biomedical and other relevant sector experience. Mark has expertise in strategic business partnering, business valuation, change & transformation, financial planning, modelling & analysis. Mark is also the Finance Director to Bionow and to Blueberry Therapeutics. 

Two Non-Executive Directors, Alastair Balls and Michael Whitaker, who have supported Bionow for many years stood down from the Bionow board at the same time. 

Geoff Davison, CEO of Bionow said: 
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of the new Directors and we welcome them to the board. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, which will be extremely valuable to the continued growth and success of Bionow and our member companies. Whilst we are excited to work with this fantastic group of directors we are cognisant of the great contribution which Alastair Balls and Michael Whitaker have made to the success and long-term sustainability of Bionow and thank them deeply for their contributions.”