What is ESG, and why is it important?

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) refers to a set of criteria used to evaluate a company’s commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. This includes managing environmental impact, fostering positive social relations, and ensuring transparent and accountable governance.

Martijn Kleibergen

Non-Executive Board Member

Martijn joined the Ridge Pharma board in August 2023 as a director representing Mercia Ventures, our lead investor.

Martijn works as a portfolio director within the Mercia Ventures VCT team where he holds a number of directorships across software, life sciences and consumer companies. Martijn has over 20 years of experience in early-stage investments and has previously worked for Pollen Street Capital and Octopus Investments.

Investing In Training

Providing the support to help you achieve your professional ambitions. Our people are our business.

We are committed to investing in the growth and success of our people through comprehensive training opportunities, support, guidance and resources.

We recognise that fostering a learning culture enhances individual skills and drives motivation, contributing to our strong position in the pharmaceutical industry.

Nurturing Your Growth

We are committed to the professional growth and development of our people. We offer extensive learning opportunities, training, and collaborations to enhance your skills and advance your career. Ridge provides the chance to work on challenging projects, expand your knowledge, and continuously improve your expertise.

When starting at Ridge, we provide an extensive onboarding programme that gives each new starter the ‘ins and outs’ of Ridge as well as a warm welcome from each of our departments.

David Toulson

Director of Market Access

David joined Ridge Pharma in 2019 and has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry in commercial and managerial roles.

With a real passion for delivering excellent customer service, he began his career with 3M Healthcare within the respiratory division; has worked at Lundbeck promoting psychiatry and neurological products and AstraZeneca in the field of Oncology and Respiratory.

David leads a team of Regional Business Directors who are specialists in pharmaceutical market access.

Alex Gwyther

Non–Executive Director

Alex became a Non-Executive Director on the Ridge Board in August 2022 after more than a year as a Board Observer, representing Ridge’s main investor: the Northern VCTs, managed by Mercia Asset Management.

Alex joined Mercia in January 2021, after seven years in the world of science and technology, having worked for the UK government as a policy advisor and then as a consultant at IBM. Alex now works in the Northern VCTs investment team and covers the majority of the Northern VCTs’ life sciences and health care investments. He sits on the Boards of a further four Mercia-backed companies.

Louise Banks

Business Development Director

Louise has over 20 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry. The vast amount of this time has been spent in various business development roles, creating strategic partnerships and alliances with pharmaceutical companies across the globe. She has been able to play a vital role in forming partnerships with numerous companies, from multinationals to small and medium sized businesses. Louise has a proven track record of success and has grown businesses by product acquisitions, co-development and working with partners to promote branded, blockbuster and niche medicines.

Louise is passionate about finding products that fulfil unmet needs within the healthcare industry. She enjoys networking and developing long term mutually beneficial partnerships worldwide.

Working Environment

Creating a family-friendly workplace is very important to us, our employees can take advantage of benefits that allow them to lead productive working lives that are well balanced with the needs of their families.

Ridge offers a variety of options that will allow employees to choose the most appropriate work schedule that will allow them to support both their personal and professional obligations.

Training and Development

At Ridge, we believe that learning is a lifelong process and are committed to investing in the education and the training of our employees.

In the knowledge that training, and development will allow us to realise the full potential of our core asset – our people – we provide the support, guidance and resources to help each employee to obtain the skills and level of performance they need to achieve their professional ambitions.

Benefits & Perks

We want your time at Ridge to be both professionally and personally rewarding.

That’s why our benefits and perks are available to support you and your family’s physical, mental, and financial well-being. We regularly review and benchmark our salaries and benefits against the rest of the industry to make sure we can attract and retain the best people.

Competitive Pay
Pension
Health

Ethos

We are a company based on strong ethical principles that have a drive to provide value for our stakeholders.

We value each individual employee and encourage all our team members to put their passion into practice and make an impact. We strongly promote career development and want to keep our employees learning, developing and striving.

We are looking for ambitious high-achievers that have proven themselves. Teamwork is the key to our success. You’ll fit right in our team from a wide variety of backgrounds all driven to make a real difference for Ridge.

If you feel that you fit the bill in terms of skillset and can add value in this challenging environment, we are keen to hear from you!

Jon Hurford

Chief Financial Officer

Jon joined Ridge Pharma in April 2020 and brings with him a wealth of experience in business and corporate finance.

Jon is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience of working with businesses across a variety of sectors. Jon has had senior corporate finance roles at both Deloitte and KPMG, advising on a range of transactions primarily involving SMEs and private equity. He has also worked at two plcs within strategic commercial projects, before latterly taking the role of finance director at a high growth SME in the waste sector.

Tasmin Morgan

Chief Operating Officer

Tasmin embarked on her professional journey after completing her studies in health sciences at Cardiff University, delving into the realm of business operations. Joining Ridge Pharma in 2018, she assumed responsibility for overseeing all non-commercial business operations. In March 2024, Tasmin was appointed to the board of directors, further cementing her position as a key leader within the company.

Her strategic insights and contributions have played an integral role in shaping Ridge Pharma’s operational landscape, highlighting her value to both the senior management team and the board of directors. Additionally, Tasmin plays a pivotal role in leading the Quality and Regulatory Team, as well as serving as the Responsible Person named on the company’s Wholesale Distribution Authorisation.

Dr Duncan Gould

Medical Director

Duncan has worked as a pharmaceutical physician with a broad range of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies from large multinationals to small focused organisations across many therapeutic areas.

Over the past 20 plus years, Duncan has worked in medical affairs and clinical development at global as well as local levels and has extensive experience working with people in commercial, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, compliance, HEOR and access roles. He has experience of working with NICE, public health and policy, advisory committees and academia. Duncan holds a medical degree and an MBA from Warwick university and continues to practice as a physician on a part time basis.

Aaron Lawson-Clark

Non Executive Board Member

Aaron joined Ridge as Non-Executive Director in September 2018. Aaron is a Partner for the Northern VCTs managed by Mercia Asset Management PLC.

Aaron joined the Northern VCTs in 2017, following nine years in Corporate Banking, where he built a specialty Technology, Media & Telecoms portfolio and led Barclays venture debt proposition for the North East. Aaron leads investment activity for the Mercia Northern VCTs across the North of England and sits on the board of multiple assets across their diversified portfolio.

During his time in banking Aaron won the award for Corporate Banker of the Year three times and prior to banking Aaron had a successful career with HM Foreign Office and HM Revenue & Customs.

Brian McEwan

Non-Executive Board Member

Brian joined Ridge Pharma in October 2020. He brings with him 40 years of senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry with both multinationals and private companies as well as extensive M&A experience.

He also helped create and grow Amdipharm which was acquired by Cinven in 2012.

Subsequently, he has developed a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles with investors and entrepreneurial pharmaceutical companies, including serving as Chairman of BGF backed Abbey Pharma up to its sale to Riemser Pharma.

Harry Stratford BSc, OBE

Non-Executive Chairman

Harry Stratford brings a wealth of experience from over 40 years in the pharmaceutical industry, notably as founder and CEO of Shire Pharmaceuticals Plc, and as founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of Prostrakan, subsequently acquired by Kyowa Hakko Kirin in 2011.

Brendon McDonagh

Chief Executive Officer

Brendon McDonagh has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus and passion in establishing brand successes across a number of therapeutic areas.

He began his career at Prostrakan and was most recently Country Manager for Consilient Health where he was responsible for launching their UK brand business, including the establishment of their oral contraceptive range as market leader.

Management Team

Board of Directors

What is ESG, and why is it important?

Martijn Kleibergen

Non-Executive Board Member

Investing In Training

Nurturing Your Growth

David Toulson

Director of Market Access

Alex Gwyther

Non–Executive Director

Louise Banks

Business Development Director

Working Environment

Creating a family-friendly workplace is very important to us, our employees can take advantage of benefits that allow them to lead productive working lives that are well balanced with the needs of their families.

Training and Development

Benefits & Perks

We want your time at Ridge to be both professionally and personally rewarding.

Ethos

We are a company based on strong ethical principles that have a drive to provide value for our stakeholders.

Jon Hurford

Chief Financial Officer

Tasmin Morgan

Chief Operating Officer

Dr Duncan Gould

Medical Director

Aaron Lawson-Clark

Non Executive Board Member

Brian McEwan

Non-Executive Board Member

Harry Stratford BSc, OBE

Non-Executive Chairman

Brendon McDonagh

Chief Executive Officer

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