Plant Impact Appoints New Scientific Advisory Board

08-Sep-2009 - United Kingdom

Plant Impact plc announced that a new Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) has been established for the Company. The new SAB consists of seasoned industry professionals with in depth experience of commercial development with key expertise in the areas of agrochemicals and natural plant protectants. The SAB comprises of Alan Jutsum, William Thompson, David Dent, David McNeilly and Edward Sharkey.

Alan Jutsum is currently the Managing Director of CEMAS, a company that provide services and research for the pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine and agrochemical industries and a director of tecsolve who offer a range of technical and regulatory services. Plant Impact has recently signed long term agreements with both these companies. Alan was Head of Global Standards at Syngenta with responsibility for setting and maintaining standards globally for pesticide application, technical excellence of all field trials, data quality and IT. He has over 30 years’ experience in the field of agrochemical research and global evaluation. He holds a BSc and a PhD in zoology from the University of Hull and has written over 60 scientific publications to date.

As COO of Plant Impact, William Thompson has extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions, product launches and start-up companies. He joined the Board of Plant Impact as a Non-Executive Director in 2004 and has played an active role in the company ever since. Previously, he served as Managing Director of Microcheck Technical Services Ltd and worked at DowElanco for in excess of ten years, where he held multiple roles. He holds a BSc in applied biology and an MSc in Nematology from Imperial College University.

An agricultural scientist of background with extensive global expertise in leadership of life-science based businesses, David Dent is an effective science and business leader with an impeccable track record in strategic business planning, relationship management, engaging key opinion formers and securing international trade. He established his own consultancy, Dent Associates, in 2005 which provides advice and support to government and science based agro-industry on strategic business development, technology transfer, international marketing and promotion. A keen political campaigner, he successfully lobbied the Government on behalf of an industry client to raise the profile of new approaches designed to meet input needs addressing climate change. He has previously worked for CABI Biosciences as Managing Director.

David McNeilly began his career in Australia, and spent over 40 years working in more than seven countries around the world, primarily in the life sciences arena. A globally experienced manager with proven skills in leadership, change management, marketing, sales, supply-chain improvement, administration, financial controls and strategic planning, and a specialist in working at the interface of technology and business development, David is skilled in assessing how to add and capture value and implementing appropriate strategies. Prior to his appointment at Plant Impact, David has previously worked for ProKyma Ltd and Alaska Food Diagnostics. He is particularly competent in the management of change, conception & implementation of strategy and development and leadership of biotechnology based businesses.

Edward Sharkey is a founder of Ambechem Ltd, a business and management consultancy operating in the agrochemical industry and has grown the company significantly since its inception in 2003. With the launch of products based on novel technology, turnover is expected to grow to $30m within four years. Ambechem has recently established a long term supply agreement for an Asian agrochemical manufacturer in the USA. Prior to founding Ambechem, Edward was the commercial director at A H Marks, where he led a team of 12 research scientists to develop and use rapid screening techniques to discover and customise new performance chemicals. He holds a BSc and PhD in chemistry from the University of Edinburgh.

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