As CEO of a Bio-informatics business Chris focused on accelerating translational clinical research into medical practice through improved data analytics and management. His company developed and brought to market an advanced SaaS digital research environment for the clinical research, genomics and healthcare markets. He scaled the business from a minimal viable product to £20m in subscription revenues.
The digital research environment was recognized as one of the top technology innovations in Scotland and transformed the use of data within hundreds of national and international research initiatives including being the core research platform for Great Ormond Street Hospital, EPAD the world’s largest dementia project and several precision medicine programmes investigating ovarian, oesophageal and pancreatic cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD and multiple sclerosis.
To achieve this, he completed three funding raises, an exit process and built a number of collaborative joint ventures within clinical research and genomic medicine institutions including being the industry partner for the Stratified Medicine Scotland JV.
During 15 years, in the corporate world, at EMC (Now Dell EMC) he was their EMEA CTO, led EMC’s North EMEA Analytics and Big Data business, ran their largest ($150m) services business and was Country Manager of Ireland where they based their European HQ.
Chris is currently a portfolio Non Exec, board adviser and mentor focused on accelerating or commercializing innovation that will have an impact in health, clean energy and food production. Currently a Leadership in Innovation Fellowship Mentor for Royal Academy of Engineering Chris is mentoring entrepreneurs in emerging economies. Innovations he is working with include advancing regenerative medicine using lab grown tissue and 3D printing, using aptamer technology to identify fish viruses and aqua based therapy to improve rehabilitation of osteoporosis.
In the charity sector he is a Board member of Cardiac Rehab a charity dedicated to helping improve heart health, fitness and wellbeing of individuals with, or at risk of developing, heart disease. Chris volunteers at Riding for the Disabled where he advises on infrastructure and data issues in addition to parking cars, side walking with riders and raising funds.
Chris has a keen interest in horse riding and competes regularly in show jumping events. He also advises Sophie Christiansen Ltd who look after the business interests of Sophie Christiansen a Paralympic champion who has built a members club to create interest in para dressage and help develop future champions.
He has a first class degree in Computing and Information Technology specializing in Artificial Intelligence. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered IT Professional (CITP) and is a Chartered Membership Assessor for the British Computer Society.
