New MD at Animalcare as group looks to new management policy

The York-based company, which makes drugs including treatments for heart failure in dogs and respiratory disease in cows, said Dr Iain Menneer has been appointed with immediate effect and will have strategic and operational oversight of its commercial work in the UK.

Animalcare said the new appointment will “allow other senior managers to give greater emphasis to the acceleration of the group’s pharmaceutical new product development programme and investment opportunities”.

It added the appointment will increase the firm’s focus on expanding the reach of its products abroad.

Chief executive Stephen Wildridge said: “This important step recognises the ability and success Iain has already demonstrated in growing the UK business.

“At the same time, it frees up valuable senior management time and resources to focus on key opportunities outside the UK both at product level and for the business as a whole.”

Dr Menneer has been head of marketing since July 2009 and director of marketing since June 2011, and was promoted to the board on July 1. Previously he worked in research and innovation at the University of York, commercialising research via licensing or spin-out companies.

Dr Menneer graduated with a degree and PhD in chemistry from the University of Newcastle and worked in the brewing industry for six years; initially in research at an independent brewing consultancy.