The Leadership Team
The Board comprises an exceptional combination of experience in life sciences, technology development, food and marketing
Stephen Patrick O'Hara
CEO / Founder
Stephen Patrick O'Hara
CEO / FounderStephen trained as a microbiologist and has over 50 publications, 70 plus patents, and chapters in a number of books. Whilst a scientist by training Stephen is at heart an entrepreneur with a track record of success in identifying opportunities, raising finance, commercialising products, and taking a number of companies to exit by IPO or trade sale. Stephen has built a number of businesses and was a founder of Acolyte Biomedica which he exited to 3M healthcare in 2007 (at a 32X multiple) whereupon he became a Director of Healthcare. Stephen has been a director of an investment company and is frequently asked to advise on potential investments by institutional investors. Stephen founded OptiBiotix in May 2012, SkinBiotix (subsequently SkinBiotherapeutics plc) in 2015, and ProBiotix health Ltd in 2018, to commercialise opportunities in the immature but evolving microbiome field. Stephen Listed OptiBiotix on the London Stock Exchange in August 2014 and SkinBiotherapeutics in April 2017.
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Dr. Sofia Kolida
Research & Development Director
Dr. Sofia Kolida
Research & Development DirectorDr Sofia Kolyda has a PhD and ten years post doctoral experience from Reading University Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences. She is widely published in the microbiome field with specialist expertise in using prebiotics as food ingredients to modulate the human microbiome. Dr Kolida’s expertise has been important in the development of OptiBiotix’s technology through laboratory studies, human studies, and manufacturing scale up, allowing the company to create a rich pipeline of award winning products. Under Dr Kolida’s leadership OptiBiotix has established itself as a global leader in targeted microbiome modulation, natural high intensity sweeteners, and sweet healthy fibres (SweetBiotix®). This work has led to agreements with a number of global corporates including Tata for microbiome modulation (LPGOS), and two SweetBiotix® agreements, the first with one of the world’s largest suppliers of nutritional products, and the second with one of the world’s largest providers of dairy products.
Neil Davidson CBE
Chairman
Neil Davidson CBE
ChairmanNeil has over thirty years of operational and board experience as Chairman and Chief Executive of FTSE 50, AIM, and private companies in both an executive and non-executive capacity. He has a wealth of commercial expertise in the food and retail sectors having started his career with Northern Foods plc, where he rose to become Managing Director of its milk division. He subsequently became Chief Executive of Express Dairies plc and then Arla Foods plc before taking on a number of board positions in FTSE listed and private companies. His experience in the public sector includes non-executive positions with a number of FTSE100 companies including Persimmons plc from 2004-2103 and Wm Morrison Supermarkets where he is currently a Non-Executive Director. Neil was awarded a CBE for services to the food and dairy industry in 2006. Neil has a personal interest in the development and commercialisation of technology to improve health. He was Chairman of Eminate, a spin out from the University of Nottingham, which developed an alternative to salt which was licensed to Tate and Lyle, and Cherry Valley Farms, a genetics business which had extensive operations in China and the Far East and was sold to an Asian private equity group in 2010. Neil chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee and Compliance Committee.
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Sean Christie
Non-Executive Director
Sean Christie
Non-Executive DirectorSean is a Non-Executive Director at Turner & Townsend LLC, Applied Graphene Materials Plc and Accsys Technologies Plc. He was Group Finance Director of Croda International Plc from 2006 to 2015, a global manufacturer of speciality chemicals. Prior to joining Croda, Sean was Group Finance Director of Northern Foods Plc. He also served as a Non-Executive Director of KCOM Plc until 2007, Eminate Ltd, Cherry Valley Farms Ltd and Produce Investments Plc. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. Sean has extensive knowledge of all aspects of finance, strategy and corporate governance in major businesses.
Graham Myers
Finance Director
Graham Myers
Finance DirectorGraham became Finance Director of the Company on a part-time basis in December 2023 to help and support the Group as it begins to fully commercialise its exciting technologies. He is currently Chair of Croda’s £750m UK person scheme, a role he took on after a successful 30 year career at FTSE100 Group Croda International Plc. As well as gaining extensive experience in senior financial roles during his time at Croda, Graham was also a member of the Group’s Executive Committee and sat on the Board’s of several UK and overseas subsidiaries. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Association of Corporate Treasurers.
Strategic Overview
OptiBiotix Health Plc is a life sciences company operating in one of the most progressive areas of biotechnological research – the modulation of the human microbiome.
- All activities are founded in a scientific approach: Better Science = Better Health
- Our R&D approach uses pharma grade platforms targeted on the food and dietary supplement markets protected by 65 patents / 17 families, 8 strain deposits, 28+ trademarks.
- The role of the microbiome on a range of human health conditions (metabolic, immune, skin, cognitive) is coming increasingly understood and OptiBiotix is working with world leaders in each field in developing solutions to large market needs
- OptiBiotix will develop this by partnering with commercial partners who have expertise in the specific field