City briefs: OptiBiotix and Kromek
OptiBiotix Health, a York-based life sciences business, has confirmed the appointment of Aneta Zlotkowska as head of quality & operations.
She joins OptiBiotix from a position as lead development manager at Tesco, where her main responsibilities were within the distribution business unit in logistics and operations.
Prior to working for Tesco, she was a quality assurance and purchasing manager at Cornelius Group, where she has also held the positions of senior supply chain executive and supply chain manager.
Zlotkowska holds a CIPS Diploma in Procurement and Supply Chain Management and has completed HACCP and BRC Third Party Auditor courses by the BRC Academy.
Dr Fred Narbel, managing director of OptiBiotix’s prebiotics division, said: “Given our rapid international expansion with the announcements of distribution and manufacturing agreements for SlimBiome®, OptiBiome® and WellBiome®, as well as commercial launches of finished products containing OptiBiotix’s technology in the UK, USA and Canada, we feel the need to appoint a full-time employee with the relevant skillset to lead our quality management system and operations.
“Aneta will join the company on 1 January 2021 and will work towards ensuring timely deliveries of high-quality ingredients to OptiBiotix’s partners around the world.
“Moreover, Aneta is tasked with attaining a BRC certification for OptiBiotix Ltd.”
:::
Huddersfield-based radiation technology business, Kromek, has announced the appointment of Rakesh Sharma as a non-executive director of the Group with immediate effect.
Sharma, 59, is a former FTSE 250 CEO with 20 years’ experience in running international hi-tech engineering and manufacturing businesses.
He was instrumental in the growth of Ultra Electronics Holdings, the LSE-listed group that specialises in providing engineering solutions for mission-critical systems in the defence, security, critical detection and control markets.
Having joined at its formation in 1993, he presided over significant revenue and profit growth across multiple director-level and divisional roles, including in North America, latterly serving for six years as CEO.
He began his career in 1983 in the military radio division of Marconi Communication Systems Ltd.
In 1989, he joined Dowty Group as a chief engineer before it was acquired by TI Group in 1992, which a year later became Ultra Electronics Holdings following a management buy-out.
Since 2017, Sharma has sat on the Board of LSE-listed PayPoint, a provider of omnichannel payments solutions and EPoS-enabled technologies, where he serves as senior independent director.
He also supports a range of small businesses and entrepreneurs in a non-executive capacity.
Sir Peter Williams, chairman of Kromek, said: “I am delighted to welcome Rakesh to the Board of Kromek.
“Throughout a distinguished career in global technology and engineering businesses, Rakesh has successfully channelled innovation to deliver growth and create value.
“In particular, he brings significant experience in the security and defence sector, which is a key market for Kromek. We look forward to benefiting from his considerable expertise as we continue to advance our business.”
Sharma said: “I am delighted to be joining Kromek, a growing and ambitious company which is developing important products to help safeguard lives and property as well as, through early diagnosis, improve outcomes of people suffering from debilitating illnesses.
“I will bring my extensive experience in the security and defence sector to help and assist wherever I can.
“This is an exciting challenge for me personally and I look forward to working with the Board and making a real contribution to the success of this dynamic company.”
