F2G
38
UNIVERSITY SPIN-OUT
An x-ray of a patient's brain, showing abcesses
Key staff in the company are returning to the
north west. Dr Tony Kennedy a 30-year pharma
veteran and head of drug development, is
originally from Sale in Manchester. The new
CEO, Ian Nicholson, has arrived from Oxford,
the same city from where the head of
chemistry, Dr Graham Sibley, was recruited.
This story is repeated in company after
company, adding to the reservoir of
management talent in the region. Start-up
companies need talent but they also need the
personality to stand up to the challenges
involved in building a business. Having ideas is
one thing but doing something with them is
another. Mike Birch, F2G's chief operating
officer, has been involved in launching two
other life science businesses in the region, one
in partnership with the University.
