22nd Jul 2019 07:00
PRESS RELEASE
Board Appointments
Appointments of Rolf Soderstrom and Dr Jim Esinhart as Non-Executive Directors
Guildford, UK - 22 July 2019: Ergomed plc (LSE: ERGO) ("Ergomed" or the "Company"), a company focused on providing specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rolf Soderstrom as a Non-Executive Director ("NED") of the Company with immediate effect. Rolf will Chair Ergomed's Audit and Risk Committee, replacing Peter George who will remain a member of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.
The Company also confirms the appointment of Dr Jim Esinhart as a NED with immediate effect. This follows his proposed appointment earlier this month and the subsequent completion of due diligence by Ergomed's Nominated Advisor.
Mr Soderstrom joins the Board of Ergomed as a highly regarded finance leader with more than 30 years' experience and a track record of rapidly accelerating the growth of companies into large profitable businesses. Rolf has extensive strategic, operational and international experience including M&A, fundraisings and disposals. His experience in the healthcare industry as CFO of BTG plc ("BTG") from 2008 to 2018 will provide valuable insight to Ergomed as it moves into its next phase of growth.
During his time as CFO of BTG, Rolf helped drive the successful transformation of the company into a fully integrated global manufacturing and sales organisation focused on specialist healthcare. As a key member of the leadership team he helped BTG grow from a small UK based business with 60 employees, to a global business with more than 1,500 people across North America, Asia and Europe. During this period the share price outperformed the FTSE 250 and the market capitalisation increased from approximately £400 million to £3 billion driven by a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.
Before joining BTG Rolf was Divisional Finance Director at Cobham Plc from 2004 to 2007 where he was responsible for a portfolio of 17 companies in Europe and the United States with combined turnover of £400 million. Prior to this he was Director of Corporate Finance at Cable & Wireless plc. He qualified as a chartered accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked initially in audit and then in the corporate finance function.
Dr Miroslav Reljanović, Executive Chairman of Ergomed, commented: "Rolf's track record, most notably as CFO of BTG, highlights his ability to materially enhance shareholder returns and transform companies into highly profitable, international and scalable businesses. Rolf has had direct exposure to the biotech, pharma and medical devices arena which underlines his broad experience across the range of services Ergomed offers to its customers. This appointment, combined with the recent strengthening of the Board with the appointments of Dr Jim Esinhart and Richard Barfield, will increase Ergomed's capabilities to help accelerate our strategy to become an independent, leading global mid-tier CRO, and further enhance our strong corporate governance"
Rolf Soderstrom said: "Ergomed's combined offering in contract research and trial management services alongside its suite of specialist pharmacovigilance solutions makes it a clearly differentiated independent player in the CRO market. Building on the progress seen to date, coupled with a focus on its core high growth areas, the Company is poised for further growth within the services industry. With my own background and unique industry perspective, I look forward to working with the Board and management team to realise the Company's potential."
Save as disclosed below, in relation to current and prior directorships, Ergomed confirms that there are no further disclosures to be made in relation to Rule 17 of paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Rolf Soderstrom's and Jim Esinhart's appointments.
Mr Rolf Kristian Soderstrom, aged 53, has held the following directorships in the past five years:
Directorships in the past five years: | Biocompatibles International Limited Biocompatibles UK Limited BTG International (Holdings) Limited BTG International Asia Limited BTG International Healthcare Limited BTG International Healthcare LLC BTG International Limited BTG Management Services Limited BTG Plc Galil Medical UK Limited IO2 Limited Pneumrx Limited Protherics Medicines Development Limited Protherics UK Limited Provensis Limited |
Mr Rolf Kristian Soderstrom does not hold any ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the Company.
Mr James ('Jim') Douglas Esinhart, aged 56, currently holds and has held the following directorships in the past five years:
Current directorships: | 120 Lee's Cut, LLC EC Investments LLC Esinhart Consulting LLC |
Directorships in the past five years: | Chiltern International (Canada) Ltd. Chiltern International Group Ltd Chiltern International Holdings Ltd Chiltern International Inc. Chiltern International Ltd Chiltern Pharmaceutical and Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd Endpoint Clinical, Inc. Ockham Development Group (Holdings) UK Ltd Ockham Development Group Inc. Ockham Europe Ltd Theorem Clinical Research Co., Ltd. Theorem Clinical Research Holdings Inc. Theorem Clinical Research Inc. Theorem CR Inc. Theorem Foreign Representation Company Theorem Research Associates, Inc. |
Mr James ('Jim') Douglas Esinhart does not hold any ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the Company.
Enquiries:
Ergomed plc | Tel: +44 (0) 1483 402 975 |
Miroslav Reljanović (Executive Chairman) | |
Richard Barfield (Chief Financial Officer) | |
Numis Securities Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 |
Freddie Barnfield / Huw Jeremy (Nominated Adviser) | |
James Black (Broker) | |
Consilium Strategic Communications - for UK enquiries | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 |
Chris Gardner / Mary-Jane Elliott | |
Matthew Neal / Olivia Manser | |
MC Services - for Continental European enquiries | Tel: +49 211 5292 5222 |
Anne Hennecke |
About Ergomed plc
Ergomed provides specialist services to the pharmaceutical industry spanning all phases of clinical trials, post-approval pharmacovigilance and medical information. Ergomed's fast-growing, profitable services business includes a full range of high-quality contract research and trial management (CRO) services under the Ergomed brand together with an industry-leading suite of specialist pharmacovigilance solutions, integrated under the PrimeVigilance brand, and an internationally recognised specialist expertise in orphan drug development, under the PSR brand. For further information, visit: http://ergomedplc.com.
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