18 Jan 2024
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24 Jan 2024
Health Innovation Manchester strengthens leadership team with two key appointments
Health Innovation Manchester is delighted to announce the strategic appointments of Sameer Kothari as Chief Commercial Officer and Claire Macconnell as Director of Operations, expanding the expertise within its executive team.
Sameer Kothari – Chief Commercial Officer
Sameer Kothari, former CEO of Zilico Limited, a cancer diagnostics company, joins Health Innovation Manchester as the Chief Commercial Officer . Sameer’s track record includes successfully establishing commercial strategies, fundraising, HR, mergers and acquisitions, and launching flagship products in the life sciences and cancer diagnostics fields.
As the Chief Commercial Officer , Sameer will be responsible for executing Health Innovation Manchester’s commercial plan and developing partnerships with SMEs and global industry players.
Ben Bridgewater, CEO at Health Innovation Manchester, said, “We welcome Sameer to Greater Manchester and look forward to benefiting from his commercial and board level experience. This will be a real asset to Health Innovation Manchester as we look to support SMEs to enhance the local economy, as well as building on global industry partnerships for the benefit the health and care system.”
Sameer, who started on 9th January 2024, said, “I am excited to join Health Innovation Manchester, an organisation with a mission to accelerate innovation at pace and scale to help better the health and wealth of the people of Greater Manchester.”
Claire Macconnell – Director of Operations
Claire Macconnell, formerly the Group Director of HR and OD at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, moves into the role of Director of Operations, a newly established position at Health Innovation Manchester.
With her extensive experience overseeing group HR functions and leading teams in complex programs across primary and secondary care, Claire will play an integral role in the seamless execution of program delivery aligned with Health Innovation Manchester’s vision and strategy.
Ben Bridgewater stated, “Claire’s appointment will strengthen our capabilities and enhance the operational management of the organisation, including the standard and quality of project management across portfolios. Claire will also be responsible for creating and implementing organisational strategies that foster a positive and productive workplace culture and ensure the wellbeing and development of our people”.
Claire officially joined Health Innovation Manchester on 18th January 2024.
Claire said, “This role and working with Health Innovation Manchester feels as though it’s an accumulation of my experiences across my career. Whether it’s been delivering frontline services or back-office functions, I’ve always been interested in bringing new ways of working to contribute to making healthcare better for our patients and the population.”
Sameer and Claire join Ben Bridgewater, CEO, Laura Rooney, Director of Strategy Gareth Thomas, Director of Digital Transformation and Tracey Vell, Medical Director, on the executive team, and further strengthens senior leadership at Health Innovation Manchester following the appointment of three global industry leaders as non-executive directors to the board in 2023.
These appointments mark a significant step forward for Health Innovation Manchester, as the organisation continues to drive innovation and collaboration across Greater Manchester and beyond.