Simon is an experienced former chief financial officer who combined a successful 25-year investment banking career with a position as Group CFO of GSK plc, the global healthcare group.
Simon stepped down from GSK in May 2019 after over eight years serving on the board of the FTSE’s fifth largest company. He made a wide-ranging contribution at GSK, helping to drive extensive restructuring and operational improvements, as well as several significant strategic transactions, including acquiring the Novartis vaccine business and creating a global scale consumer healthcare company, recently spun out as Haleon. As CFO, he led the Finance team but also had responsibility for a broad range of central services including technology, data and analytics, real estate and procurement.
He is currently a Senior Advisor to The Carlyle Group, focused on the Healthcare sector as well as opportunities in the UK. He is also on the board of WPP plc, the creative transformation company, as a Non-executive Director, and has also recently completed four years as a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of London based Donmar Theatre.
Simon replaces outgoing Chair Dave Norwood, who remains on the board at Genomics plc.
Simon Dingemans, Chair, Genomics plc:
“As a discipline, genomics will become central to healthcare in the future, offering enormous benefits to patients and health systems. I firmly believe Genomics plc will be at the heart of this, leading the field in the development of genomically-powered tools. I am really excited to join the company as its new Chair, to offer my experience and perspectives to Peter and the leadership team, and to help develop the company’s strategic and commercial direction.”
Professor Sir Peter Donnelly FRS, FMedSci, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Genomics plc:
“Simon is the perfect fit for Genomics, and we’re delighted to have him on board. Having operated in healthcare for many years, his understanding of the sector and our key markets will be extremely valuable for us. Alongside this, with his experience as an advisor and investor working with smaller-scale businesses focused on expansion, we are certain he will play a huge role in our future growth and success. I also want to thank Dave Norwood, our outgoing Chair, for his huge contribution over the last eight years. He has been a part of our journey since we founded the company and a vital part of our successes. I am personally grateful for his mentorship and support and it will be great to have his ongoing involvement as non-executive director on the board.”