Jenny Winter, Chief Executive Officer

Length of service

Appointed to the Board on 1 October 2018

Committee Membership

By invitation

Key skills and experience

Jenny has over twenty years’ experience working in big pharma in various senior commercial roles for AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. Most recently, Jenny was Vice- President of Respiratory products - Global Supply Chain and Strategy at AstraZeneca, a position she held from 2015. Roles at the company also include Vice-President Cardiology – Global Product and Portfolio Strategy, Commercial Director – Eastern Europe, Marketing Company President Hungary, where she led a major change programme to drive future success and Global Vice President, Group Public Affairs.

Jenny has also been CEO of the charity, Barretstown, transforming it into a successful leading children’s charity. Her work at the charity resulted in her being asked by Barretstown board member Dermot Gleeson, Chairman of Allied Irish Bank, to join the Board of the bank as a Non-Executive Director, a role she held from 2004 to 2010. Jenny has a BSc in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Southampton.

Chris Cardon, Chief Strategy Officer

Length of service

Appointed to the Board on Admission

Committee membership

By invitation

Key skills and experience

Chris founded Ecuphar as Chris Cardon NV in 2001 to capitalise on opportunities identified in the animal health industry. The company began with the development of a number of original and high-quality OTC products for companion animal markets. Chris graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Ghent in 1993 after which he took over his family's pharmacy business. In 1995, he completed an MBA at the Vlerick Leuven-Gent Management School and then in 2006 received the prestigious award "Export Lion of Flanders 2005" in the Young Exporters category.

Chris has a strong entrepreneurial background in human OTC product development. In 1996, Chris established Mooss Pharma, a company which developed human OTC products that were exclusively distributed by pharmacists. Mooss Pharma developed into a key player in the Belgian market, and in 2001 the OTC assets of Mooss Pharma were acquired by Omega Pharma.

Chris was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. Chris resigned as Chief Executive Officer on 1 October 2018 but continues as an Executive Director as Chief Strategy Officer.

Chris Brewster, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

Length of service

Appointed to the Board in 2017

Committee membership

Secretary of the Audit Committee and by invitation

Key skills and experience

Chris was re-appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer in September 2017.

He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2003 and spent ten years at KPMG, working across a number of functions including Audit, Transaction Services and Corporate Finance, gaining a broad range of experience across a diversified portfolio of clients.

Prior to joining Animalcare, Chris was Group Accounting Manager at Findus Group where he was responsible for the UK and European financial accounting, taxation and reporting requirements.

Jan Boone, Non-Executive Chairman

Length of service

Appointed to the Board on Admission

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

Key skills and experience

Jan is the Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Bakeries, which is listed on Euronext Brussels. He started at Lotus Bakeries as managing director in 2005 and was named chief executive officer in 2011.

Between 2000 and 2005, Jan served as Head of Corporate Controlling and Member of the Executive Committee of Omega Pharma NV. He started his career in the audit department at PricewaterhouseCoopers and holds a Master's degree in Applied Economics (KU Leuven) and a Master's degree in Audit (UMH).

In addition to his role at Lotus Bakeries, Jan serves as non-executive director of Club Brugge.

Edwin Torr, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Length of service

Appointed to the Board on Admission 

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

Key skills and experience

Edwin Torr has significant experience of international veterinary and animal health markets, gained over a period of more than 20 years, during which time he has worked for ICI, Pitman Moore, Alfa Laval Agri and Dechra Pharmaceuticals. He was part of the management buyout team that set up Dechra Veterinary Products in 1997, and was an executive director on the board of the Dechra entity that was listed on the London Stock Exchange from 2000 until 2013. During this time, he was responsible for business development, managed the European business unit and was instrumental in setting up the USA business. Since 2014, Edwin has independently advised various companies on sales and marketing structures, M&A opportunities, 'in' and 'out' licensing of products and investment opportunities within the veterinary and animal health market sector.

James Lambert MBE, Non-Executive Director

Length of service

Appointed to the Board in 2008

Committee membership

Chairman of the Nomination Committee

Key skills and experience

James was appointed Chairman of the Group in 2008 when the Company was acquired by Ritchey plc for whom he had been the chairman since 2005 and a non-executive director since 2003. James was previously co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of R&R Ice Cream where under James' leadership, R&R Ice Cream made a series of acquisitions to become the largest ice cream manufacturer by volume in the UK. James is now chairman of Burton's Biscuits, a company he helped Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquire in 2013. He was also awarded the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2014.

Marc Coucke, Non-Executive Director

Length of service

Appointed to the Board on Admission

Committee membership

Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

Key skills and experience

Marc founded Omega Pharma in 1987 and developed the company into a leading pan-European OTC health and personal care business. Marc has served as both chairman and chief executive officer of Omega Pharma. Following the sale thereof in 2015 to Perrigo Company plc for €3.6 billion, Marc invests via his private investment firm Alychlo NV in several listed and non-listed companies.

Marc currently serves as chairman of Mithra Pharmaceuticals (EBR: MITRA) and as non-executive director of Fagron (EBR: FAGR), in addition to a number of private companies.

Marc graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Ghent after which he completed an MBA at the Vlerick Leuven-Gent Management School. He was also awarded, as Chief Executive Officer of Omega Pharma, the EY Flemish Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2002.

Lord Nick Downshire, Non-Executive Director

Length of service

Appointed to the Board in 2008

Committee membership

Chairman of the Audit Committee

Key skills and experience

Nick joined the Board of the Group when it was acquired by Ritchey plc for whom he had acted as a director since 1998. Nick is a qualified chartered accountant who has worked in corporate finance and venture capital. He has held and still holds non-executive directorships in a diverse range of businesses in the insurance, agricultural, hospitality, education and technology sectors. Nick runs an estate in Yorkshire with a range of activities including quarrying, renewables, forestry and a hotel as well as agriculture and real estate. He is also Chairman of the National Agriculture and Land Use committee for the Country Landowners & Business Association for Yorkshire and sits on their national policy committee, as well as acting as a trustee for a number of charitable and land related trusts.