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Imperial is pleased to announce the following key appointments in our market access business.
Executive Vice President: Market Access Healthcare
David Pritchard has been appointed as Executive Vice President: Market Access Healthcare, effective July 2020. Having joined Imperial in early 2019, David is well-known in the African pharmaceutical industry. He spent over 21 years with GSK and moved to Africa in 2008 as general manager of GSK’s South African pharmaceutical business. He also spent seven years as head of the International Region of ViiV (GSK’s antiretroviral business) and served as head of GSK’s Africa and Developing Countries unit - leading a £500 million pharmaceutical and vaccine business of 1,800 people across 50 countries.
Executive Vice President: Market Access Consumer
Bruce Denyer has been appointed as Executive Vice President: Market Access Consumer, effective July 2020. Previously serving as CEO of our Southern and East Africa business, Bruce has extensive experience across the African continent. With a passion for the consumer goods industry, he previously served as Managing Director for both Associated British Foods and the Ireland based Ornua dairy business. More recently, he worked as COO for Far East Mercantile based in Lagos, Nigeria - a region in which he lived for more than 10 years.
These roles are key to our ‘Gateway to Africa’ strategy and Bruce and David will accordingly lead our delivery of unique consumer and healthcare market access solutions - realising the potential of these sustainable, fast growing and defensive industries in all of our markets of operation. Leveraging Imperial’s considerable footprint, scale and expertise, they will strengthen and grow our market access position - working alongside multinational clients wanting to enter and grow in emerging economies.
Executive Vice President: West Africa - with dual responsibility
As previously announced, Sherring Thekekkara was appointed as CEO West Africa for African Regions in 2019. Given our long-standing and ongoing business partnership with the Chanrai Group - from whom we acquired our healthcare and consumer businesses in Africa, including Worldwide Healthcare in Nigeria and Far East Mercantile in Ghana - Imperial continues to assess further partnership opportunities with them as we grow our consumer footprint in West Africa. Accordingly, Sherring will hold a dual role wherein he will continue with his responsibilities in his role as now Executive Vice President: West Africa for Imperial and will also serve as the CEO of Fareast Mercantile, Nigeria. In this regional role, Sherring will be responsible for the local support of all Imperial companies in Nigeria and Ghana - driving collaboration and efficiencies across these business units. As CEO for Fareast Mercantile Nigeria, he will lead the business and take full operational responsibility.
Sherring has over 30 years leadership experience across multiple geographies and industries, with vast knowledge and experience in healthcare, consumer goods, and supply chain and logistics in Nigeria and Ghana. In 2012, Sherring spearheaded the carve-out of Worldwide Healthcare from Fareast Mercantile and joined Imperial as part of this acquisition. Sherring’s appointment in this dual role will provide invaluable on the ground leadership and will lay the foundation to further advance our partnership with the Chanrai Group going forward.
David, Bruce and Sherring bring with them formidable focus and experience, and we wish them every success in their new roles.
