John Power

A Serial Entrepreneur in technology and an innovation-focused career spanning over 30 years, John has held executive-level positions in R&D, Operations, Sales, and General Management in both the SME and MNC environment. During this period he has been a founder or co-founder of several ‘Blue Ocean’ technology start-ups the last three of these in the life-science sector.

John has led Aerogen from a start-up in 1997 through a US merger, subsequent NASDAQ IPO, acquisition, and MBO in 2008. Today Aerogen is recognized as a pioneer in high-performance nebulization and a global leader in ICU ventilator / Hospital-based aerosol drug delivery. Its award-winning products are employed in over 75 countries throughout the world helping to provide life critical interventions from the emergency department through to the NICU. Aerogen’s proprietary technology permits proteins, peptides, suspensions, and solutions to be nebulized paving the way for targeted drug delivery to the lung.

Since 2008 the company has grown revenues 30%+ year on year and in recognition of its export success, Aerogen was awarded the prestigious European Business Award Ruban d’Honneur in 2011 and again in 2016, where John was also named the European Entrepreneur of the Year. Aerogen was named the Irish Exporter of the Year 2014. In 2013, 2015 & 2016 Aerogen received the highest award granted by the American Association of Respiratory Care, the Zenith Award, for ‘providing products and services that enable respiratory care physicians and therapists to achieve clinical excellence. Also in 2013 Aerogen was voted Irish Med-Tech Company of the year.

A Chartered Engineer, John is recognized as a technology innovator and is credited with over a dozen commercialized International patents in products ranging from robotics to life-support ventilation. He holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and as an Adjunct Lecturer at National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), he guest lectures on his core business interests of Innovation Strategies and Technology Entrepreneurship.

He is a founder faculty member of the NUIG Bio-Innovate program (run in conjunction with Stanford University Bio-Design), an incubator unit that promotes entrepreneurial start-ups in medical technologies where he has actively mentored several early-stage companies. In 2016 in recognition of his contribution to the development of the Irish Medical Device sector John was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the National University of Ireland Galway.

John is a senior member of the Board of the Irish Medical Device Association where he has represented Ireland as an Industry expert in the European Competitive Council in Brussels. He previously served as a Board member of The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology.

John is a very active social entrepreneur in both his community where he has been chairman and long-term member of his Community Development Association and Internationally through Foundation Nepal and World Vision where he has led significant fundraising initiatives for irrigation / agricultural and local enterprise development.