Dr David Buckeridge has been elected as Chair of the Board at the crop research organisation NIAB.
Dr Buckeridge has 35 years of operational management experience in the life science and agribusiness industries. With a PhD in genetics and plant sciences from the University of Wales, David began his career with AstraZeneca, spending 20 years in a variety of management positions globally. After serving as Group CEO of Advanta BV, the largest independent agronomic seed business in the world at that time, David led its exit from private equity ownership and advised on its successful initial public offering to the Indian stock market in 2007. Subsequently, he has played a senior advisory role to both strategic and financial investors in the life sciences and agribusiness, focusing on the operational and strategic planning aspects of these industries. He has served as director and chair of a range of companies in the agribusiness, pharma and public health industries, and is currently Chair of the Board of Protealis and of Cycle Pharmaceuticals and an independent director of Velcourt Ltd.
Dr Buckeridge succeeds Jim Godfrey who retired in November 2022 after chairing the NIAB Board for seven years and now takes a position on the Board of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany Trust.
Trebled in size
Announcing the changes NIAB chief executive Professor Mario Caccamo said: “Over the past 15 years NIAB has more than trebled in size through investment in new scientific skills and partnerships, and increasing commercial activity, and we are extremely grateful to Jim Godfrey for his support and guidance throughout this period. I would also like to thank Steve Ellwood, who is member of the NIAB Board and served as Chair from November 2022 until Dr Buckeridge was in a position to take on the role.”
Dr Buckeridge said: “This is an exciting time for NIAB as the organisation moves to the next step in the ambition to become an integrated research and knowledge transfer hub for the entire crop improvement and production pipeline, not just from a UK perspective but globally.
“I look forward to working with Mario and the Executive team in ensuring NIAB reaches its potential in leading applied crop research and innovation now and in the future.”
