Management Team
Professor Andrew Dove
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Professor Andrew Dove is a world-expert in degradable biomaterials/polymers at the School of Chemistry in the University of Birmingham. The creation of 4D Medicine Ltd was the culmination of over 12 years’ research and Andrew is determined to see his novel materials technology translated into a commercial success, delivering better treatment experiences and outcomes for medical patients across the globe. In his part-time role as a Director and CSO, Andrew continues to provide vital scientific guidance and support to the company. Andrew graduated from the University of York with an M.Chem. degree in 1999 and he gained his subsequent Ph.D. at Imperial College, London. Andrew undertook post-doctoral research at Stanford University, California and then as a post-doctoral fellow at IBM, San Jose, California. Andrew returned to the UK in 2006 and was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, rising to Associate Professor in 2009 and Full Professor in 2014. In January 2018, Andrew joined the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham as Professor of Chemistry.
Philip Smith
Chief Executive Officer
With over 35 years’ experience in the engineering and materials industries and a track record of delivering fast business growth in a diverse range of start-ups, Phil is playing a key role in shaping 4D Medicine’s strategy and driving the business forward. Previous start-up roles include CEO at Interface Polymers, a polymer additive spin-out from the University of Warwick and Managing Director at a precision instrument spin-out from Cranfield University, majority owned by a FTSE 100 company. Between those appointments, Phil enjoyed a total of 12 years working as an independent consultant and a business development specialist with Warwick Ventures. Phil initially trained as an Engineering Technician in the aerospace instrumentation sector and became a Chartered Engineer in the late 90’s. Throughout his career, Phil has been excited by innovation and the satisfaction of working closely with customers to disrupt markets that are ready for change. Phil has an MBA (with distinction) from Warwick Business School, a BSc Hons in Materials Science and Technology from Brunel University and a Higher National Certificate in Mechanical and Production Engineering.
Dr John Devine
Non-executive Director
Dr John Devine is a business leader with over 10 years experience in the medical device industry across multiple geographies and executive management team experience within a highly successful FTSE 250 organisation. Passionate about achieving business growth through the identification of unmet needs and the creation of new products and business models to meet these needs.
Dr Phil Reeves
3D Printing Business Strategist & Consultant
Dr Phil Reeves is a leading consultant on Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing (AM/3DP) business strategy and technology investment. Phil has worked in the field of AM/3DP for over 25-years, having gained a PhD in the subject from Nottingham University (UK) in the mid-1990s. In 2003 Phil founded global AM/3DP consulting firm Econolyst Ltd which was acquired by Stratasys in 2015. Between 2015 and 2018 Phil was global Vice President of consulting at Stratasys, the world’s largest 3D Printing technology vendor & service provider. Phil is now the managing director at Reeves Insight Ltd, where he advises clients across the AM/3DP ecosystem, from user and vendors to investors and governments.
Rick Leach
Medical Device Industry Consultant
Rick Leach is a medical device industry veteran whose international career spans more than thirty years in senior commercial roles within medical technology start-ups and multinational blue-chip companies. He has worked in Europe and the U.S.A. for companies such as Baxter Healthcare, IsoTis Orthobiologics, Integra Life Sciences and Bonesupport. Rick’s core technology focus has been on implantable medical devices, biomaterials and regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal indications. In 2019, Rick co-founded Callisto Life Science Partners Ltd, a medical device consultancy that advises universities and early-stage companies on global go-to-market strategies. Rick is an elected Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Dr Andy Naylor
Head of R+D Operations
Dr Andrew Naylor has over 15 years’ experience in research and development at the interface between academia and industry. With a strong track record of taking new technologies from spin-out to market, developing quality management systems and securing substantial grant funding from UK and international sources, Andrew brings valuable commercial R+D management talent to the team. As head of R+D operations, Andrew leads our product and process development activities and manages the company’s laboratory at MediCity in Nottingham. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.
Dr He Liang
Product Development Scientist
Dr He Liang is an experienced materials scientist with extensive knowledge around the creation and development of clinically-relevant biomaterials. Liang’s primary roles in the company are to support product development, proof of concept assessments and early-stage production, both for our family of resin-inks and our implantable medical devices. Prior to joining 4D Biomaterials®, Liang worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool on the design and development of biopolymers including hydrogels, coatings and fibres.
Tom Robinson
Development Chemist
Tom has experience working in both research and GMP compliant laboratory environments. As the scale of our material production increases at Medicity, Tom’s role is to assure the quality of our materials whilst also developing and streamlining the synthetic manufacturing processes. Having previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry, he has a good understanding of stability studies, quality management systems and analytical instrumentation. Tom gained his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.
Eric Lehder
Biomechanical Engineer
Eric Lehder is a Biomechanical Engineer with a passion for tissue regeneration devices as well as the use of novel additive manufacturing technologies to realise such implants. Eric’s primary role in the company will be to turn promising implantable device concepts at 4DBiomaterials® into optimised prototypes, and into final products further down the line. Prior to joining 4DBiomaterials®, Eric worked as a PhD researcher at the Centre for Additive Manufacturing of the University of Nottingham on the design and optimisation of 3D printed tissue engineering implants.
Tim O'Connell
Chief Financial Officer
Tim O’Connell is our part-time Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Accountant, who for 20 years held senior executive roles in the computer games industry seeing different facets of Publishing, Development and Distribution, thereby gaining experience in a wide range of operational disciplines. Tim helped grow companies including one group as FD from 10 employees to 300 and flotation and ultimate sale. He was responsible for opening a number of international offices/joint ventures and helped acquire/sell companies and close non-performing ones. Tim also gained considerable experience with legal contracts, commercial and corporate including IP. Since setting up a consultancy in 2003, Tim has helped mentor and develop business and strategic plans for a number of start-up and early growth companies, helping raise finance through equity, debt and grants. Tim also works with VC’s/Angels.
Shin Cheung
Office Manager
Shin Cheung is an experienced Office Manager and had over 15 years’ of administrative experience prior to joining the company. After graduating with an MBA in Marketing, she worked abroad in sales and marketing for treatment and personal care products, as well as assisting in business development, training and support within the education sector, before returning to the UK. Shin is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of administrative operations and supporting the management of the office and laboratory. She also plays a key role in liaising with customers, suppliers and other external bodies and provides general assistance to her internal colleagues.
Nick Jenkinson
Chartered Accountant
Nick is a Chartered Accountant with ten years experience in roles advising clients across a range of industries including financial services, retail, construction, manufacturing and public sector. Nick has been invited in the successful turnaround and restructuring of multiple UK high street brands and more recently helped accelerate the growth of several startups and UK SMEs. Nick is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and also holds the Certificate in Insolvency.