Appointment of Claire Gates as CEO of Thorn Medical PLC

LONDON, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Thorn Medical PLC, the aggregator of medical technology, pharmaceutical product and healthcare services businesses, today is pleased to announce that it has appointed Claire Gates as CEO. As a result, Jack Kaye CEO and founder will stand down as CEO but will remain on the board as an executive director. Lord Beaverbrook remains chairman of the Thorn Medical PLC board.

Formerly group head, key issuers, MasterCard; from 2011 to 2014 Gates was managing director and global COO of Borro.com, the leading personal asset lender in the UK and US. Between 2009 and 2011, she was managing director of Virgin Money Canada.

Prior to that, she worked at GE Capital in a succession of roles including; joint venture and partnership leader Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In 2007 she was the interim CEO of a GE joint venture in UAE with Al Futtaim.  There, she was responsible for GE Money's continued expansion in the Middle East including business planning, funding, sourcing, product development and launch, operations, IT as well as obtaining necessary licenses and incorporation of the business.  

Between 2004 and 2006 she was merchant acquiring European sales and marketing director at Citibank Europe and, from 1999 to 2004, worked in series of roles at American Express Europe including head of airlines and car rental EMEA, chief financial officer, ESG and vice president, global sales strategy for pre-paid products.

After completing her MBA at Warwick Business School, she spent three years as a management consultant with Roland Berger GmBH, based out of Germany. Prior to this, and post qualifying as a chemical and process engineer, she worked for Lochinvar, LLC.

Currently she is also a non-executive director of ThatSoYoo and advisory board member of Ammado, the global charitable donation platform.

Gates says: "I'm excited to be joining Thorn Medial PLC at this time and particularly to work with Lord Beaverbrook and Jack Kaye to take the company to the next stage in its growth.  Healthcare is undoubtedly one of the most challenging business areas currently but with significant growth potential and Thorn Medical PLC has the people, technologies and services to answer some of the most pressing medical challenges that face humanity."

Jack Kaye, founder and director, Thorn Medical PLC, adds: "We are delighted to welcome Claire Gates as CEO of Thorn Medical.  Her leadership experience in developing business partnerships and international operations will be a major asset to Thorn Medical PLC as it pursues its mission to break down barriers to providing more efficient and effective healthcare worldwide."

Thorn Medical PLC

Thorn Medical is a trusted expert investor and acceleration partner dedicated to breaking down the barriers to providing more efficient and effective healthcare worldwide.

With a clear focus on improving human wellbeing, it acts as an aggregator of innovative, scientifically-validated medical technology, pharmaceutical product and healthcare services businesses.

It aims to transform organisational performance through delivering best practice flexible management services that streamline operations, reduce costs, encourage cross-fertilisation, expand market reach and enhance return on capital.

Thorn Medical is dedicated to this market, with a global perspective and an understanding at first hand of the evolving challenges that healthcare businesses face in growing successfully.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE ISSUER ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

For further information please contact:
Walbrook PR Ltd
Tel: +44-20-7933-8780 or thornmedical@walbrookpr.com
Mike Wort
Mob: +44-7900-608-002