Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Managing Director operating in the Health Care space. If you think a Managing Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Parminder Basran
Co-founder and Managing Director of Velos Partners
Parminder Basran is the Founder & Managing Partner at VGC Partners.
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About Iconic Images, Kick Game, Round World Entertainment, Twenty Ten Capital, Velos Partners, VGC Partners, WIT Fitness: Velos Partners is a consumer growth capital firm investing in retail innovation, health & wellness, and luxury & entertainment.
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Sarah Verity-Thomas
Managing Director of Cinven
Sarah is a member of the Investor Relations and Fundraising team and is responsible for Cinven’s client services on behalf of our Limited Partners. Previously, Sarah worked as a Manager in the Private Equity Transaction Services group at KPMG, advising private equity clients on M&A and restructuring deals across a range of sectors. Prior to this, Sarah spent four years with Arthur Andersen, where she worked in the Private Equity Tax group and gained her Chartered Accountancy qualification. Sarah holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University. She joined Cinven in 2005.
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About Cinven: Cinven is an international private equity firm focused on building world-class global companies.
Tarek Bayazid
Managing Director of Cinven
Tarek is a member of the Investor Relations and Fundraising team. Previously Tarek worked as a Vice President in the Alternative Assets Group at Citigroup, advising private equity clients with a broad range of products, including M&A advisory, leveraged finance and private equity fundraising. Tarek holds an MSc in Communications and a BA in History from Boston College. He joined Cinven in 2014.
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About Cinven: Cinven is an international private equity firm focused on building world-class global companies.
Rafael López Schietekat
Founder & Managing Director of Diagnostikare
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About Diagnostikare: The first data-driven patient-centric virtual primary care platform in Mexico.
Christopher Crozier
Chief Risk Officer and Managing Director of Permira
Christopher is the Chief Risk Officer of Permira. He focuses on improving and standardising Permira’s risk management function globally. His role covers key areas including reputation, conflicts, compliance, litigation and regulatory matters. Christopher is a member of the ESG group. Prior to joining Permira as a Principal in 2008, Christopher was the Chief Administrative Officer for Emerging Markets (EMEA) at Morgan Stanley, where he was responsible for a number of compliance and risk matters, including helping the firm establish its Middle East offices. Before that, he practised law at Freshfields and Simpson Thacher.
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About Permira: Permira is a global growth obsessed private capital investor.
Neil Griffiths
Managing Director, UK of TeleTracking
Neil Griffiths is a seasoned healthcare executive, bringing more than 20 years of public and private sector experience to TeleTracking’s UK operations. In his role as Managing Director, he is leading the UK business and is part of the global TeleTracking senior leadership team. With his deep understanding of hospitals and experience of managing change, Mr. Griffiths ensures that TeleTracking’s approach and solutions are deployed in the most effective way to support long term sustainable impact. Prior to joining TeleTracking, Mr. Griffiths was the Deputy CEO and a board member at University College London Hospitals [UCLH] Foundation Trust, one of the leading acute academic hospital providers in the UK. In that capacity, he was responsible for the development of uclh future, the Trust’s ambitious transformation strategy that combines the creation of new operating processes and use of technology with the development of leadership and change management capabilities. Prior to that, Mr. Griffiths was the entrepreneurial leader and a board member for the McKinsey Hospital Institute (MHI) in the UK. Neil holds an MBA from the University of Westminster and a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol.
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About TeleTracking: TeleTracking Passionate About Optimizing Hospital Operations & PatientFlow.
Petri Vainio
Managing Director of Essex Woodlands Healthcare Partners
Petri Vainio, M.D., Ph.D. has 25 years of experience as an investor in rapidly growing healthcare companies. Petri Vainio spent more than 10 years as a General Partner of Sierra Ventures, one of Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firms with over $1 billion under management. While at Sierra, Petri Vainio was a General Partner in five successive funds and led their healthcare investment practice. Petri Vainio has been a lead investor in numerous successful healthcare companies in all sectors of healthcare, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and healthcare services. He has served on the board of directors of over 20 private and public healthcare companies and has helped these companies raise over $1billion in financing and reach a combined market value of over $30 billion. Petri Vainio sits on the Board of Directors of Molecular Partners. Petri Vainio holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Doctor of Philosophy in biochemistry from the University of Helsinki, and a Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University. Petri Vainio joined Essex Woodlands as Managing Director in the London office in 2004.
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About Essex Woodlands Healthcare Partners: Essex Woodlands is a healthcare growth equity and venture capital firm.
Lana Ghanem
Founder & Managing Director of Hikma Ventures
Lana is managing director at Hikma Ventures which she helped establish in 2015. Lana started her career at Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC in 2012 as the Assistant to the CEO and Director of Corporate Strategy & Development where she worked on strategic projects across the company’s various functions including strategy, M&A, operations and finance. Prior to joining Hikma, Lana worked as a Financial Analyst in the Mergers and Acquisitions department at Dresdner Kleinwort Investment Bank in London where she worked on transactions for clients across multiple industries. Lana holds an MBA from Harvard Business School (HBS) and a Bachelors of Commerce degree from McGill University.
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About Hikma Ventures: Hikma Ventures operates as the corporate venture capital arm of Hikma Pharmaceuticals.
Jonathan Tobin
Managing Director of Arix Bioscience
Jonathan specialises in therapeutics and diagnostics investments and has a background in medical research and drug discovery. Prior to joining Imperial Innovations he worked at MRC Technology, sourcing and evaluating new opportunities for small molecule and antibody drug discovery worldwide. He has a PhD in molecular medicine from UCL, and undertook post-doctoral research at the Cancer Research UK LRI. He has published in journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Genetics, and PNAS. Jonathan has a First Class degree in Biological Science from Oxford University and an MBA with Distinction from Imperial College.
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About Arix Bioscience: Arix Bioscience is a healthcare and life science company.
Daniel Couchman Kendall
Managing Director & Founder of Mission Based Media
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About Mission Based Media: Mission Based Media creates and produces audio content that depends on the organization’s goals.
Michael Buchen
Managing Director of Polar Light Ventures
Michael is the Founder & Managing Director of Polar Light Ventures AG, an investment firm based in Switzerland, focusing on early-stage technology ventures. Previously he was the Managing Director of Dhabi Holdings, a principal investment firm of senior members of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. He joined Dhabi Holdings from Mubadala Investment Company, where he worked in the Special Situations Team. Before Mubadala, he worked for Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in Europe, China and the Middle East. Michael currently serves or served on the Boards of a number of companies in the MedTech, Software, AdTech, Financial Services, Food & Beverage, Energy, Telecom and Venture Capital space.
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About Polar Light Ventures: Principal Investment Company focusing on early stage technology ventures.
Louis Rennocks
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Grndhouse
Louis Rennocks is the Co-founder and managing director of Grndhouse.
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About Grndhouse: Grndhouse is an online fitness platform.
Robert Perin
Managing Director of Protak Scientific
Prior to his current role as CEO & partner at Protak Scientific in the biotechnology industry the last 5 years, Robert Perin worked at Blackberry as Senior Commercial Director, Europe for just under a decade.
After his time in telecommunications, he worked as an investor and advisor for several start-ups including launching Oscobo, Becovi Media and CST Automotive amongst others. Since becoming CEO and partner in one of the most exciting and ground changing Biotech companies to date, Robert has been instrumental in bringing major pharma companies onboard such as Pfizer, Bayer, Novo Nordisk, and AstraZeneca.
Protak Scientific provides rapid validation solutions to large isolator manufacturers, global pharmaceutical companies, and scientific universities with established and recognised ground-breaking technology that assists pharmaceutical companies to validate their decontamination in aseptic production.
He has been key to both setting the corporate strategy and gaining international recognition and acceptance, as the innovative way of approaching validation, with the regulators and international scientific community.
He has also been a key part in the expansion of the company globally into countries such as the US, India, and China, trebling revenue in recent years. Although relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry, his belief in the technology, passion for the industry, and commercial acumen have enabled Protack Scientific to become a growing UK success story within the international pharmaceutical industry.
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About Protak Scientific: PS is a biotechnology firm that manufacturers enzyme indicators.
John Ross
Managing Director of telmedx
John is an internationally-recognized IT security expert with more than 35 years experience as a senior consultant to government and commercial clients. He has successfully implemented security platforms for the UK Cabinet Office and other high profile clients.
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About telmedx: Telmedx offers a mobile telemedicine platform that enables doctors to remotely examine their patients in high resolution.
Adam George
UK Managing Director of GW Pharmaceuticals
Adam George has served as our Managing Director – UK since March 2017. Mr. George also acts as our Company Secretary. Prior to taking on his current role, Mr. George served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2012 and Financial Controller since 2007. Mr. George has previously occupied several senior finance roles within both public and privately-owned companies, most recently as Finance Director from 2004 to 2007 and as Group Financial Controller from 2001 to 2004 of Believe It Group Limited (now 4Com plc), a telecommunications service provider. Mr. George holds an BSc. in Biology from Bristol University and is qualified as a chartered accountant.
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About GW Pharmaceuticals: GW Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutics.
Rehab Sofan
Managing Director of SAVANT
Founder and Managing Director of beauty business Savant.
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About SAVANT: Beauty & Aesthetics Services
Dr Kalli Nikolaidou
Managing Director of Aesthetic Derma Clinic
Dr Kalli Nikolaidou is an expert in aesthetics and Dermatology and the founder and owner of Aesthetic Derma Clinic in London’s Harley Street.
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About : Cosmetic care & Dermatology treatments
Chantelle Bell
Managing Director of Syrona Health
Chantelle Bell is the Managing Director and co-founder of Syrona Health.
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About Syrona Health: Syrona Health is a personalised digital health platform for Chronic Gynaecological/Uterine Conditions like Endometriosis, PCOS etc.
Charles Lowe
Managing Director of Digital Health And Care Alliance
Charles Lowe was educated at Cambridge and the London Business School. Following an early financial career, he led the creation of the BT Intranet as one of the first, largest and most successful corporate Intranets. He was at the centre of BT’s collaboration with the UK Government to deliver UKonline and other path-breaking public uses of the Internet. After BT he ran a large ICT/modernisation programme for the London Borough of Newham’s Social Services Departments where he established a large telecare programme with some 3000 users. In 2007 Charles won Department of Health ‘Whole System Demonstrator’ funding for LB Newham to include telehealth. Charles’s telecare work won a 2008 NHS London Health & Social Care Innovation Award. Charles joined Telehealth Solutions in 2008 where he was responsible for product development and initial sales. In 2011 Charles joined Surrey County Council as Telecare & Telehealth Project Manager on a short contract to mainstream telecare and to run a £3.9m telehealth tender, both now successfully completed. Since 2013 he has built a portfolio of roles including Managing Director of the Digital Health & Care Alliance (DHACA) and assisting NetScientific plc in commercialising their data analytic service to improve substantially the predictive ability of telehealth.
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About Digital Health And Care Alliance: DHACA is an organisation dedicated to improving interoperability and reducing duplication in health and care systems.
Lucie Marchelot Shukla
Co-Founder – Managing Director of Straight Teeth Direct
Lucie Marchelot Shukla is a Co-Founder – Managing Director at Straight Teeth Direct.
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About Straight Teeth Direct: Straight TeethDirect to consumer teledentistry platform that connects users to online dentists globally enabling low cost.
Rebecca Terrell
Founder and Managing Director of Tribeca Studios
Rebecca Terrell is the founder and managing director of Tribeca Studios.
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About Tribeca Studios: Tribeca Studios is a boutique fitness club that operates as a pay-as-you train studio.
Mark O’Herlihy
Managing Director EMEA of IBM Watson Health
Head of IBM Watson Health for Europe, Middle East & Africa. As the Managing Director, Mark holds full responsibility for the Sales & Go to Market strategy & team, for Watson Health software products and solutions to their customers. This includes the full portfolio of Life Sciences, Oncology, Genomics, Imaging, Government, Value-Based Care & Population Health Management solutions. Mark has a clinical background and has worked in the NHS as well as many senior leadership positions in global, European and start-up healthcare companies throughout his career, with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare segment, Mark brings a wealth of experience and perspective and he is passionate about health and social care for everyone.
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About IBM Watson Health: IBM Watson Health works across the health landscape, from payers and providers to government and life sciences.
Alex Sweeney
Managing Director of Xyla Diagnostics
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About Xyla Diagnostics: Xyla Diagnostics specializes in providing diagnostic imaging services.
Stephan Loose
Managing Director of Old Street Strategy
Stephan Loose Founder and Managing Director of Old Street Strategy, Stephan has over 15 years’ experience in identifying, selling and marketing integrated healthcare solutions in to a variety of private and public sector stakeholders across the globe. Driven by a passion for solving highly complex business problems, Stephan specialises in helping companies navigate rapidly changing healthcare systems and government environments in an effort to identify and create business opportunities that represent value to all stakeholders Stephan has operated at senior level across a variety of industries that market innovative products to both public and private sector organisations across life sciences, med-tech, animal health, defence and automotive. His industry experience has been collected across 4 continents and encompasses breadth of customer engagement models, including strategic account management, private and public sector marketing, government relations and market access.
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About Old Street Strategy: Old Street Strategy is a Boutique Strategy Consultancy that specializes helping organizations with innovative medical health & technologies.
Paul Ebert
Managing Director of Tabeo
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About Tabeo: We simplify payments and contact management for healthcare specialists. Grow your business and keep patients happy.
Benedikt Reinke
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Sympatient
Benedikt Reinke is the Co-Founder & Managing Director at Sympatient GmbH
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About Sympatient: Sympatient is building the first digital anxiety clinic.
Dr Sarah Shah
Managing Director of Artistry Clinic
Dr Sarah Shah has started her career in the medical field and transitioned in 2014 into aesthetics, becoming one of the most well-known Injectors in the UK.
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About Artistry Clinic: Aesthetic Clinics by Dr Sarah Shah
Axel Heitmueller
Managing Director of Imperial College Health Partners
Axel has been involved with Imperial College Health Partners since its conception in 2011 as an Interim Director and joined the partnership full-time in August 2013 as Director of Strategy and Commerce. As of September 2016, Axel was appointed as Managing Director. Prior to joining the partnership, Axel was Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He brings a broad range of experience from academia and central government where he was Deputy Director and Chief Analyst at the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in Cabinet Office and No 10.
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About Imperial College Health Partners: A partnership bringing together NHS providers of healthcare services, clinical commissioning groups and leading universities across London
Alya Shakir
Founder & Managing Director of Private Walk-In Clinic
Managing Director of the Harley Health Centre Group
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About : Private medical services in the City of London.
Matthew Reed
Founder and Managing Director of Equipsme
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About Equipsme: Equipsme provides health insurance for UK business.
João Félix
Managing Director of Wellty
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About Wellty: Wellness Consulting and Investments
Ruby Chan
Managing Director of My Teatime LTD
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About My Teatime LTD: Wholesome natural tea infusions: from blooming flower teas to perfectly crafted blends, made from whole leaves.
Dominic Thorpe
Founder and Managing Director- Acting CEO and in charge of fundraising, strategy, and development of Wireless Fitness
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About Wireless Fitness: The Wireless Fitness is an app that portable exercise studio in your phone
Francis Namouk
Managing Director of Videum
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About Videum: Videum facilitates an online platform that enables its users to find and publish videos related to health and wellness.
