Dr. Dominik Koechlin (Non-executive Chairman)
Dr. Koechlin is a Swiss citizen and joined the Board as a non-executive director in January 2009. After starting his career in banking, Dr. Koechlin founded Epsillon AG, a consultancy and corporate financier focused on environmentally sound management. He then joined Telecom PTT, the leading Swiss telecommunications company and led it through privatisation to become Swisscom AG.
Dr. Koechlin is a non-executive director of the Swiss companies EGL AG, Swissmetal AG and Clariant AG and of LGT Bank in Lichtenstein. He also serves as a non-executove director of several private companies.
Dr. Koechlin succeeded Dr. Albert Fischer as Chairman on 15 April 2010.
John Brady (Chief Executive)
Mr. Brady is a US national and joined the Group as Chief Executive in 2001. Mr. Brady is responsible for implementing the Group's strategy and for management of the Group's operations.
Prior to joining the Group, Mr. Brady was President and CEO of Alaska Seafood International, a seafood product manufacturing company. Prior to that, Mr. Brady served as Executive Vice President, Operations, for Anderson Clayton Corp, one of the world's largest vertically-integrated cotton companies. Mr. Brady served at Anderson Clayton for 19 years.
Mr. Brady holds an MBA degree with an emphasis in Finance from Arizona State University and a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut.
Stephen Weaver (Finance Director)
Mr. Weaver is a US national and joined the Group as Chief Financial Officer in 2007. He was appointed to the board in March 2008. He is responsible for managing the accounting, finance, human resource and information technology functions for the Group.
Prior to joining the Group, Mr. Weaver was Chief Financial Officer of Xaloy, Inc., an international manufacturing business serving the global plastics industry. Prior to that, Mr. Weaver served consecutively as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc., a manufacturing company serving the global steel industry. He served at Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed manufacturing company serving the global steel industry.
Mr. Weaver holds an MBA degree from Indiana University and a BA degree in economics from DePauw University.
Samuel Wauchope (Senior Independent Director)
Mr. Wauchope is a UK citizen and joined the Group as a non-executive director in June 2004. A chartered accountant, Mr. Wauchope’s executive career has involved CEO and Executive Chairman positions in a number of UK listed companies, including Acorn Computer Group plc, Oceonics Group plc and Ultrasis plc. Mr. Wauchope now acts as a strategic advisor to companies in the technology and cleantech sectors.
Mr. Wauchope is non-executive chairman of Evergreen Securities plc and a non-executive director of Progressive European Markets Limited and of Landover Wireless Inc. (USA)
Dr. David Buckeridge (Non-executive director)
Dr. Buckeridge is a UK citizen and joined the Group as a non-executive director in October 2008. Dr. Buckeridge is currently an operating director with Paine & Partners, a US private equity firm. Previously, he spent 20 years with multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Dr. Buckeridge held a number of senior positions during his time at AstraZeneca, including five years running the company’s commercial seed business in the United States. In 1999, he was appointed as a main board director of AstraZeneca’s seeds business and then CEO of Advanta, then the largest independent agronomic seeds business in the world.
Dr. Buckeridge is non-executive Chairman of Archimica Cooperatief U.A., and a non-executive director of Oxitec Limited, NLA FP Limited, Icicle Seafoods Inc. and Icicle Holdings Inc.
Jeremy Scudamore (Non-executive director)
Mr. Scudamore is a UK citizen and joined the Group as a non-executive director in October 2008. Mr. Scudamore worked for 35 years in the life science, agrochemical and specialty chemical business of ICI, AstraZeneca and Avecia, latterly as chief executive officer and chairman of the Avecia group. Previously chief executive officer of Zeneca Specialties, Mr. Scudamore led the £1.3 billion buyout from AstraZeneca and successfully restructured the group into a pure biotechnology company.
Mr. Scudamore is currently senior independent director of ARM Holdings plc, a non-executive director of Oxford Catalysts Group PLC and non-executive chairman of Boardlink Group Limited.