Chippenham, UK – 3 February 2015: Vectura Group plc (LSE: VEC; "Vectura" or "the Company") announces today that after twelve years with Vectura, Dr Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive, has informed the Board of his intention to step down as Chief Executive. Chris joined Vectura before the Initial Public Offering (IPO) and has led the Company to its current position as a publicly listed company and a leader in the treatment of airways diseases. Chris will remain in his role until the end of June 2015 and will assist the Board with the search for his successor.
Dr Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive:
"I am intensely proud of what we have achieved over the past twelve years and I feel that now is the right time to move on. I remain totally focused on the continued evolution of Vectura and I am confident that the business is in great shape, with the right senior management team to ensure that the Company continues to thrive."
"I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to those, past and present, who have helped build the Company, to those who have supported its growth and to the Board for their understanding and support."
Bruno Angelici, Chairman:
"I have enjoyed working with Chris and I warmly thank him for the great results achieved under his leadership. Whilst we will be sad to see Chris depart, he will leave the business in a very strong position. On behalf of the entire Board I would like to wish him well in his future endeavours."
-Ends-
Enquiries
Vectura Group plc
+44 (0)1249 667700
Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive
Andrew Oakley, Chief Financial Officer
Karl Keegan, Chief Corporate Development Officer
FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Ben Atwell / John Dineen / Ulla Lundhus
About Vectura
Vectura is a product development company that focuses on the development of pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment of airways-related diseases (airways diseases). This growing market includes asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is estimated to be worth in excess of $46 billion worldwide.1
Vectura now has eight products marketed by partners with growing global royalty streams and a portfolio of drugs in clinical development, a number of which have been licensed to major pharmaceutical companies. Vectura currently has disclosed development collaborations and license agreements with several global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Novartis, Sandoz, Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline, UCB, Ablynx, Grifols, Janssen Biotech and Tianjin KingYork Group Company.
Vectura develops products for airways diseases and owns formulation and inhalation technologies that are available to other pharmaceutical companies on an out-licensing basis where this complements Vectura's business strategy.
For further information, please visit Vectura's website at www.vectura.com.