Ralph Browning
Ralph is an innovative business leader with a banking, technology and portfolio management background. He has a proven track record of strong commercial judgement and expertise in shaping business strategies to optimise results.
He has been adviser and analyst to a substantial London based activist equity fund including taking public company Directorship/Chairmanship roles where required.
He was instrumental in the creation of the premium income fund supporting the first Re-Takaful (Islamic reinsurance) syndicates at Lloyd’s. He originated 6x innovative hedge funds for Deutsche Bank AG – achievement acknowledged with two Euromoney industry awards – and subsequently formed Deutsche Bank AG’s Islamic finance subsidiary; a joint venture with Oxford University and a Saudi Group.
Previously he was Senior Vice President with responsibility for commercial development of MasterCard International’s global electronic cash product and had leadership roles with NatWest and ICI.
Ralph is a graduate of The London School of Economics; his professional qualifications include the Chartered Institute of Bankers and London Stock Exchange registration
Dr Simon Yaxley
Simon obtained his doctorate in Neuroscience from Oxford University in 1985 and following several years in academic research, joined the pharmaceutical industry.
He is a drug development professional having extensive experience of working with major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies all over the world. He has worked across all phases of clinical product development and in a variety of therapeutic areas.
In 2002 he founded Premier Research, a clinical contract research organisation, which he grew to more than 1400 drug development professionals working out of offices in 26 countries. As CEO, he developed the business to focus on oncology, central nervous system disorders, and pain management clinical product development. He took the company public in 2004 and then private, with the help of private equity, in 2008.
After becoming Deputy Chairman in 2009, Simon eventually left Premier Research to work as an adviser to a variety of different drug development organisations.