John von Benecke
Chief Executive Officer
John has a strong track record as an executive in a range of Life Sciences and healthcare companies, covering both pre-revenue and commercial high growth companies. He has raised more than $130m of venture capital to date and taken two start-ups through to successful exit events, including the $330m acquisition of ApaTech Ltd by Baxter. John has gained strong operational experience across a range of business functions and organisations, including fulfilling combined CFO and COO roles for two private companies previously.
John holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organisational Psychology and is a qualified accountant and corporate treasurer.
Robyn Cochrane
QARA and Clinical Director
With experience in both global medical device manufacture and start-up environments, Robyn offers a key understanding of the quality, regulatory and clinical requirements during new product development and introduction to the market of innovative technologies. Robyn has been responsible for driving regulatory strategy and ensuring a high level of organisational compliance to both national and international legislation. Through submissions to several regulatory agencies, she has facilitated the conduct of vital pre-market clinical work and subsequently achieved new device clearances in both the United States and European territories.
Robyn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Immunology & Microbiology and has experience within the orthopaedics, cardiology and sports medicine sectors.
Keith Valentine
Non-Executive Chair
Keith Valentine is a 30-year veteran in the orthopeadic industry and is serves the CEO and President of SeaSpine (NASDAQ: SPNE). Prior to joining SeaSpine, Mr. Valentine served as President and Chief Operating Officer of NuVasive, Inc. from January 2007 to April 2015 and as President from December 2004 to January 2007, prior to which he served in various senior executive roles in Marketing, Development and Operations since joining NuVasive in 2001.
Previously, Mr. Valentine served as Vice President of Marketing at ORATEC Interventions, Inc., a medical device company acquired by Smith & Nephew PLC, and spent eight years in various roles with Medtronic Sofamor Danek, including Vice President of Marketing for the Rods division and Group Director for the BMP Biologics program, the Interbody Sales Development Effort, and International Sales and Marketing. Mr. Valentine received a B.B.A. in Management and Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University.
Lyndsey Johnson
Scientific Programme Manager
Lyndsey has worked in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine for over a decade.
Through her work in academia as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist and industry as a Project Scientist, Lyndsey has gained a wealth of experience which helps support her role as Locate Bio’s Scientific Programme Manager. Lyndsey has management and tactical responsibility for the planning, design and execution of all Locate Bio projects.
Lyndsey holds a Medical Biochemistry BSC and Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD from the University of Leicester.
Colin Thomson
Finance Director
Colin is a commercially focused Finance Director with experience in complex Commercial, R&D and Corporate roles. Colin has a proven track record of driving business and financial performance and has held roles of increasing responsibility across GSK. In his most recent role, Colin was the Finance Director of GSK’s Dutch HIV business.
Colin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and qualified with Deloitte.
Victoria Oldham
HR Manager
Victoria has a wealth of Human Resource Management experience working with leaders and managers to develop effective people strategies that support businesses achieve their goals. Victoria has gained a broad generalist HR experience across a range of industries including global medical device, start-ups, manufacturing, and professional services.
Victoria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a PGDip in Human Resource Management and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Charles Matthews
Lead Scientist
Charles has worked in drug discovery (oncology) and regenerative medicine for more than two decades and he has extensive experience investigating the impact of biomaterials and pharmacologic agents on cellular biology.
Charles leads Locate Bio’s scientific team and he’s responsible for end-to-end product development. This includes initial product conception, laboratory feasibility studies, pre-clinical testing and GMP manufacture.
Charles holds a Physiology and Pharmacology BSc from Sheffield University and a PhD from the Pharmacy School, University of Nottingham.
Ian Wilding PhD
Non-Executive Director
An internationally-respected key opinion leader in drug development and a serial entrepreneur, his background includes strong scientific, business, managerial and deal-making experience.
Ian has previously founded, managed and developed a number of successful bioscience start-up companies, including Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd. (recipient of a Frost & Sullivan Excellence in Technology Award) which, as Chief Executive, he grew to over 110 employees and a 10 Million GBP turnover.
His previous board positions including Bend Research, Zysis, Modern Biosciences and R5 Pharmaceuticals.
Professor Kevin Shakesheff, FRPharmS
Scientific Director
Following his return from the Langer Laboratories at M.I.T, Kevin has taken a leading role in shaping cell therapy and tissue engineering in the UK as a co-founder of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (now 12 years old), as a Co-Director of the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine and as a member of the Biologics and Vaccines Expert Advisory Group of the MHRA.
In 2013 he was appointed Director of the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform Hub in Acellular Technologies. Kevin has published over 220 peer-reviewed full papers (10,000 citations to date) and his work has generated 13 patent application families and numerous international awards.
Alex Gwyther
Non-Executive Director
Alex is an Investment Manager at Mercia Ventures. He is responsible for a number of health and life sciences portfolio investments, including Axis Spine Technologies, Turbine AI and Gentronix. Alex has been part of Mercia’s VCT team since 2021, and is involved with deal origination, portfolio management and transactions.
Jon Earl
Non-Executive Director
Jon has 15 years’ experience of investing in SME’s having joined BGF in 2013. He is primarily focussed on the management of the BGF portfolio and working with the boards of investee companies. Jon has completed 50 investments during his career including several successful exits.
Prior to joining BGF, his investment experience was gained at Catapult Ventures. In his earlier career, he worked at KPMG in the Midlands, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and at Lloyds Pharmacy during a period of significant M&A. He is a graduate of Durham University with a BSc (Hons) in Geography.
