Syncona Regulatory News (SYNC)

Syncona Limited

Melanie Gee Appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair-designate

4 June 2019

Syncona Limited, a leading healthcare company focused on founding, building and funding global leaders in life science, announces that Melanie Gee has been appointed to the Group's Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director and Chair-designate with immediate effect. Melanie will also join the Nomination and Remuneration Committees, and will work closely with current Chair Jeremy Tigue over the coming months in preparation for his retirement and handover of the Chair on 31 December 2019. The appointment process was led by Nicholas Moss, the Company's Senior Independent Director.

Melanie is an accomplished investment banker with over 30 years' experience in the financial advisory industry. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Standard Life Aberdeen plc, alongside her role as a Senior Advisor for Lazard & Co Limited, the London office of Lazard Ltd, the NYSE-listed financial advisory and asset management firm. She joined Lazard in 2008 after 25 years at UBS Investment Bank where she led banking teams on substantial transactions of many longstanding UBS clients.

Melanie has FTSE 100 and 250 Board experience which includes membership of the Risk & Capital, Nomination & Governance, Audit, Remuneration and Investment Committees. Prior Board appointments include the position of Non-Executive Director of The Weir Group from 2011 to 2017 and Non-Executive Director of Drax Group from 2013 to 2016.

Nicholas Moss, Senior Independent Director, said, "We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie to the Board of Syncona Limited and as Chair-designate today as part of our Board succession planning process. Melanie will be a strong addition to our Board and we look forward to working with her to continue our strategy of investing in exceptional science whilst striving to deliver transformational treatments to patients."

Jeremy Tigue, Chairman of Syncona Limited, "I am delighted to welcome Melanie Gee to the Board. She has a wealth of expertise built from 30 years in investment banking and is an experienced board member, serving on the boards of both FTSE 100 and 250 companies. I have been greatly privileged to Chair the Company through seven exciting years since its foundation in 2012 and look forward to handing over to Melanie at the end of December."

Melanie Gee said, "I am very much looking forward to joining the Syncona Board and engaging with its talented management team to help deliver their strategic objectives. It is an exciting time for the Company and I am pleased to have the opportunity to be part of that as it builds on its impressive momentum of creating successful life sciences companies."

No further details are required to be disclosed under LR 9.6.13

[ENDS]

Enquiries

Syncona Ltd 

Annabel Clay / Siobhan Weaver

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3981 7940

FTI Consulting

Brett Pollard / Ben Atwell / Natalie Garland-Collins

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

Forward-looking statements - this announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the portfolio of investments of Syncona Ltd. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast.

About Syncona

Syncona is a leading FTSE250 healthcare company focused on founding, building and funding global leaders in life science. Our vision is to deliver transformational treatments to patients in truly innovative areas of healthcare while generating superior returns for shareholders.

We seek to partner with the best, brightest and most ambitious minds in science to build globally competitive businesses.

We take a long-term view, underpinned by a deep pool of capital, and are established leaders in gene and cell therapy. We focus on delivering dramatic efficacy for patients in areas of high unmet need.