It doesn’t come as a surprise to me that the recent trading update and the aggressive expansion into new markets along with the much-anticipated partnering news with Lyramid are as a direct result of new human resources the business now has and the support of major shareholders
It appears that in the past the heavy lifting and decision making was done by the CEO and rightly or wrongly the business was operating on the smell of an oily rag (no pun intended).Unfortunately for legacy shareholders all they can remember is the last refresh on their portfolio value and the current share price.
However, the company is much different to what the current perception of some existing shareholders may think, in saying that you can’t blame them either with the erroneous pain of seeing the equity value and return on investment significantly declining year by year.
As alluded to in my first paragraph, the value-added team delivering results for shareholders include:
Mr Bart Wuurman - an accomplished biotech CEO with over 30 years’ experience in innovative drug development, biotech financing, business development and licensing. He has extensive experience in working with research and development-based companies in pharmaceutical product development in several therapeutic areas, including cancer, fibrosis and cardiovascular diseases. Mr Wuurman has previously executed successful biotech deals including Antisoma in the UK via a successful IPO and Lanthio Pharma in the Netherlands via a trade sale. At AM-Pharma, as CEO, he was instrumental in securing a €29 million funding round and a $600 million option deal with Pfizer. In 2015 Mr Wuurman became Managing Director of DDF Ventures, a life-science fund with a portfolio of young life sciences companies.
Dr Dominic Burg - an experienced scientist and an accomplished science communicator, with a background in large multi-national projects in translational medicine. Dominic has successfully transitioned his analytical and operational skillset towards directing the day to day operations, logistics, manufacture and regulatory affairs of Cellmid. Dominic is also responsible for scientific and technical aspects of new product development as well as science communications. Dominic undertook his PhD studies at the University of NSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. Following his PhD studies, Dominic underwent post doctoral training at the University of Sydney, studying the systems biology of complex inflammatory processes underpinning cancer cachexia syndrome.. Dominic was subsequently recruited to work as a post doctoral fellow in the large multinational public-private research consortium UBIOPRED as the proteomics workstream leader, for which was based in the UK for a number of years. It was during this time that Dominic honed his analytical capabilities, science communications, project management skills and strategic thinking, as well as developing a passion for fostering multidisciplinary collaboration.
Mr Jason Lynch - a Degree qualified Australian Chartered Accountant with 15+ years working experience in the professional services, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and consumer & equipment finance leasing industries in Australia and across Asia Pacific. Jason's career has taken him from Sydney to Shanghai and Singapore where he has gained extensive experience in financial control, with particular focus on consolidation, statutory financial reporting, taxation, treasury, internal controls, process improvement, budgeting and financial analysis. Jason is a proven finance business partner to CEO and CFO with strong technical background and track record in building, developing and leading finance teams across Asia Pacific to support growing businesses.
Mr Raj Ghatge has been associated with the beauty industry for more than 20 years. He has worked for brands like L’Oréal within their Luxury Products Department and more recently with The Jojoba Company, a natural Australian skin care brand. Raj has worked with retailers and distributors as well as on the brand side, providing well rounded experience and a good insight into all angles of the beauty business. Before coming to Australia in 2010, Raj had positions in the beauty industry in was based in New Zealand and in the Middle East. Raj has worked with department stores, specialty beauty stores, beauty salons, pharmacies and health food stores. As a result of this experience, Raj has built a reputation as a commercial marketer continually linking marketing to sales. His key strengths lie in building brands, new product development and establishing international markets such as US, UK and Asia-Pacific.
Mr Gary McCaw an experienced Director of Sales, with a demonstrated history of delivery working in the pharmaceuticals industry. Gary is highly skilled in negotiation, budgeting and is a passionate sales leader, focused on people development and growth, as well as achieving results that build and persist. Gary has a track record of strong healthcare sales and as a national key account professional. Gary has a post graduate qualification focused in business administration, management and operations from UNSW Business School.
Sharron Hall is based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle, Australia, where she coordinates clinical studies into midkine as a biomarker. Originally trained in Pathology, Sharron has developed a wide professional network, spanning the clinical and academic sectors at the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, and the University of Newcastle. She co-ordinates all aspects of multidisciplinary human research, including ethics, safety, engagement with clinical practitioners, sample collection from community volunteers and laboratory processing of specimens. The use of ELISA systems for analysis has been a long-standing focus of her scientific practice and Sharron supports LYRAMID’s midkine studies in patients.
Along with value added employees the company has also attracted new major shareholders including:
Washington H. Soul Pattinson - Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (WHSP) is an Australian public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. WHSP is an investment house with investments in a diverse portfolio of assets across a range of industries. WHSP has been listed on the ASX since 1903 and in this time has never failed to pay a dividend to shareholders. Its origins are in owning and operating Australian pharmacies, however, WHSP has expanded beyond pharmacy and today has a much broader investment portfolio encompassing investments in natural resources, building materials, telecommunications, retail, agriculture, property equity, investments and corporate advisory.
Dennis Eck (Director and #1 CDY Shareholder), a former chief executive of the Coles retail conglomerate, says the rise of e-commerce giants such as Amazon has reshaped the retail landscape and paved the way for the rise of micro-brands in consumer goods that are able to build a presence very quickly. Mr Eck, who is based in California but is in Sydney for meetings with ASX-listed company Cellmid in which he has a $2 million investment and is also a director, said Amazon and its fellow e-commerce behemoths had overturned the retail rules in a short space of time. But the new retail environment where social media and digital communication had a large influence on consumer behaviour and buying patterns, meant new consumer brands could gain traction very fast in their particular segments, and they didn't necessarily have to become ubiquitous global brands. Mr Eck said the health and wellness category was growing strongly as cashed-up Baby Boomers wanted to age gracefully. "First of all you have a population that is ageing," he said. "People have a bit more money to spend to look and feel good and to maintain their health. Vanity is a human trait. There's no doubt".Cellmid has ambitious plans for its Evolis anti-hair-loss lotions and shampoos, which have begun selling in the US in department stores including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.
The estimated Net Worth of Dennis K Eck is at least USD $157 Million as of 1 April 2019. Mr. Eck owns over 10,000 units of Ulta Beauty stock worth over $54,403,800 and over the last 12 years he sold ULTA stock worth over $102,835,556. In addition, he makes $255,142 as Independent Director at Ulta Beauty.
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