Simon Kerry

Dr Kerry is a business professional with two decades’ experience of creating and developing innovative life science companies. CEO of Karus until recently, having joined them in 2006. He was Director of Business Development at Ablynx NV (Ghent, Belgium), where he secured a number of research, development and licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies including Wyeth (now Pfizer) and Novartis. During this time, he played a key role in Ablynx's growth from early-stage to one of Europe's most promising antibody companies. Prior to Ablynx, Simon was Director of Business Development at Active Biotech AB (Lund, Sweden), where he spun-out the molecular evolution company, Isogenica Ltd (Cambridge, UK), later joining the spin-out as Vice President of Business Development. Simon has held other key commercial appointments at Actinova Ltd (Cambridge, UK), and Actigen Ltd (Cambridge, UK). He has also occupied senior commercial roles at the Health Protection Agency (Salisbury, UK) and within the Jasmin group of companies. Simon has a degree in Medicinal Chemistry, a Life Science PhD and an executive MBA from Loughborough University Business School. Simon is on the Advisory Board of MedCity, an initiative that positions London and South-East England as a world leading, interconnected region for life science research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Simon is also a co-founder of Angels4LifeSciences), an angel investment community committed to early-stage UK-based life science companies.