BRITISH online fashion and cosmetic retailer ASOS Plc has revamped its board to name new directors on Wednesday (2).
The company appointed four new independent non-executive directors, including Ocado Solutions chief executive officer Luke Jensen, Sky executive Mai Fyfield, former Burberry executive Eugenia Ulasewicz, and Micro Focus executive Karen Geary.
With the latest appointments, the number of independent non-executive directors in the board increased to six.
Two existing directors, Hilary Riva and Rita Clifton, are scheduled to leave the fashion firm next year after their six-year tenures.
Jensen will be responsible for the audit and nomination committees, along with Geary and Ulasewicz, while Fyfield will oversee the audit and remuneration committees.
Adam Crozier, chairman, ASOS plc said: "On behalf of the board, I'd like to warmly welcome Karen, Luke, Mai and Eugenia to ASOS. Their world-class experience, skills, and expertise will be essential in guiding the business through the next stage of global growth, fuelled by the substantial investments it has made over the past few years. I'd also like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Hilary and Rita for the important role they have played in the development of ASOS and the board during their tenure."
According to ASOS, it sells more than 85,000 branded and ASOS brand products through localised app, mobile, and desktop web experiences, delivering from fulfilment centres in the US and Europe, including the UK.
ASOS is trying to get experienced executives to revive its business after the firm issued its third profit warning in July since last December.
The British firm said the overall sales climbed 12 per cent in the four months to June 30. However, growth in the US and Europe was lower than expected, at 12 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, owing to operational failures.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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