Health Innovation Manchester has appointed international industry experts to support the Board’s drive to improve the health of Greater Manchester citizens through research and innovation.

Professor Steven Myint, Dr. Mark Chakravarty and Steve Oldfield CB join HInM as non-executive directors, working within an already exceptional Board which includes leaders from across Greater Manchester’s health and care system and its four universities.

Announcing the appointments at today’s Board meeting, Chair, Rowena Burns, said: “It is a measure of the widespread national respect for HInM’s vision and commitment that we have been able to attract candidates of the highest calibre.

“The new appointees bring with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and insights from across the global health and life sciences landscape to assist Health Innovation Manchester to deliver research and innovation at pace and scale across Greater Manchester.”

In welcoming the new colleagues to the Board, Rowena added: “Steven, Mark, and Steve all have experience in public life, science, and in industry – this combination will support Health Innovation Manchester in introducing innovations which can transform the health and wellbeing of citizens across Greater Manchester.”

The new non-executive directors are:

• Professor Steven Myint, Chairman of Inex Private Ltd, Co-chairman of the External Advisory Network for the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
• Dr Mark Chakravarty, Vice Chair of the unitary board of directors at National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• Steve Oldfield CB, former Chief Commercial Officer and Director General, Life Sciences at the UK Department of Health & Social Care

Professor Steven Myint is a former NHS consultant, university Professor and Faculty Dean with international business experience across public, private and NGO sectors. He has considerable entrepreneurial experience and has been the founder of several companies across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, AI and corporate culture.

Steven has been a board level executive in biotech and pharmaceutical multinational companies, including Medical Director for Global Research and Development at GSK Global, and Senior Vice-President for R&D and Chief Medical Officer at BTG International. He is currently the Chairman of Inex Private Ltd, non-executive director of Aplagon Oy and Medisapiens Oy, and Co-chairman of the External Advisory Network for the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Commenting on his appointment, Steven said: “I look forward to bringing my experience across multiple sectors to guide strategy, growth and innovation at Health Innovation Manchester. The Greater Manchester health and care system is already demonstrating the ability to forge strong and sustainable partnerships, and I welcome the opportunity to support the board in achieving Health Innovation Manchester’s vision to become a recognised international leader in accelerating innovation.”

Dr Mark Chakravarty is a business leader and physician with more 20 years’ international leadership experience in both the private and public sector, including Novartis, Procter and Gamble and the NHS. He has worked in a variety of roles, including medical, scientific, external relations and communications.

Mark is currently the Vice Chair of the unitary board of directors at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). He was formerly the global head of communications and patient advocacy for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and also led communications for the feminine and family care sector at Procter & Gamble.

Commenting on his appointment, Mark said: “Health Innovation Manchester has an ambitious plan to accelerate innovation at scale, address inequalities and stimulate local economic growth. I am delighted to join the board and work at the heart of cross sectorial collaboration, to transform the health and wellbeing of GM citizens and be recognised as an international innovation leader.”

Steve Oldfield CB has international leadership experience across the private and public sector, in healthcare and life sciences. He was appointed Chief Commercial Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care in 2017, where he worked at the centre of healthcare policy and operations throughout Brexit and COVID-19. Steve was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2021 in recognition of his work on the COVID 19 response.

Steve was formerly Chief Operating Officer for PGT Healthcare, a consumer-health joint venture between Procter & Gamble and Teva, and UK Managing Director for the Sanofi Group. He has strong record of delivery against ambitious targets and has successfully led major organisation transformation initiatives.

Commenting on his appointment, Steve said: “I look forward to bringing my commercial experience and perspective to guide and support the discovery, development and deployment of new solutions across Greater Manchester. I have a keen interest in the adoption of innovation in the healthcare system, and the role of non-executive director at Health Innovation Manchester brings the opportunity to work with others right in the heart of this exciting landscape.”

The three new non-executive directors join Helen Routh, who has been non-executive with HInM for the last three years and has an extensive background in global healthcare technologies.