Rea takes on Surgical MD role
ENTREPRENEUR Chris Rea, founder of AESSEAL, has been appointed as interim managing director of Surgical Innovations following the departure of its chief executive last month.
Rea is the founder of South Yorkshire-based AES Engineering, the holding company for several manufacturing and engineering businesses including AESSEAL, one of the world’s largest mechanical seals manufacturers.
In June, he invested £1.6m to take a major stake in Surgical Innovations Group, the AIM-listed Leeds-based company which develops innovative medical technology for use in keyhole surgery.
The company’s CEO Graham Bowland stepped down from his role at the end of last month.
The announcement came as the group revealed that it may pull the plug on plans to build a state-of-the-art research and development centre in Leeds following a “disappointing” first half performance.
SI said Mike Thornton continues as finance director and company secretary and will also act as CEO of Surgical Innovations Ltd.
It also announced that, in line with an earlier board decision to reduce the number of directors given the current size of the company, Colin Glass and Ray Simkins step down as non-executive directors of Surgical Innovations with immediate effect.
Professor Mike McMahon remains a non-executive director of Surgical Innovations and clinical advisor to the company.
