Board of Directors
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Ronnie Kells
Chairman
Ronnie Kells is Chairman and a non-executive director of United Drug plc. Ronnie was appointed Chairman on 5 October 2005, having served as a non-executive director since 14 April 1999. Ronnie has extensive banking and investment experience and prior to joining United Drug plc was Group Chief Executive of Ulster Bank. Ronnie is also a nonexecutive director of a number of other companies.
Ronnie has served on the Board for 12.7 years. Ronnie is a member of the Remuneration Committee (8.1 years), the Nomination Committee (6.2 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (8.7 years).
Executive Directors
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Liam FitzGerald
Chief Executive
Liam FitzGerald was appointed a director on 23 October 1996 and appointed Chief Executive on 1 October 2000. Liam joined United Drug plc in 1993 and was previously Managing Director of United Drug Distributors. Prior to joining United Drug plc, Liam worked in Dimension Marketing Limited and Jefferson Smurfit Group plc. Liam is currently a non-executive director of Warner Chilcott plc and C&C Group plc and is a former Chairman of the Marketing Society and Traidlinks.
Liam has served on the Board for 15.2 years. Liam is a member of the Nomination Committee (11.2 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (8.7 years).
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Barry McGrane
Finance Director
Barry McGrane was appointed a director on 31 August 2001. Barry joined United Drug plc in 1993 and has held various senior finance roles throughout the Group and also that of Company Secretary. Formerly, Barry worked with Reflex Investments plc and Andersen, Dublin.
Barry has served on the Board for 10.3 years. Barry is a member of the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (8.7 years).
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Chris Corbin
Managing Director of the Sales, Marketing & Medical division
Appointed a director of United Drug plc on 20 June 2003, Chris Corbin is Managing Director of the Sales, Marketing & Medical division. Chris founded Ashfield Healthcare Limited and previously held sales management positions with Parke Davis, Fisons, Astra and May & Baker. Chris was formerly Patron for SETPOINT Leicestershire, Chairman of Leicestershire Business Awards and a member of Derbyshire Magistrates Bench.
Chris has served on the Board for 8.5 years.
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Alan Ralph
Managing Director of the Healthcare Supply Chain division
Alan Ralph was appointed a director on 19 June 2008. Alan joined United Drug plc in 1999 and currently holds responsibility for the Healthcare Supply Chain division. Prior to this, Alan held various roles throughout the Group including Managing Director of the Pharma Wholesale division. Formerly, Alan worked with Banta Corporation and Price Waterhouse
Alan has served on the Board for 3.5 years.
Non-Executive Directors
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Chris Brinsmead
Non-Executive Director
Chris Brinsmead was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 12 April 2010. Chris was formerly Chairman of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals UK, President of AstraZeneca UK and Ireland and President of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Chris is also a non-executive director of other companies including Domino Printing Sciences plc and is a former director of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
Chris has served on the Board for 1.7 years. Chris is a member of the Remuneration Committee (1.5 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (1.5 years).
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Annette Flynn
Non-Executive Director
Annette Flynn was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 7 March 2011. Prior to being appointed as a non-executive director, Annette served as an executive director since 28 September 2004. Annette joined United Drug plc in 1996 and held various senior roles throughout the Group, including Managing Director of the Packaging & Specialty division and Head of Group Strategy. Prior to joining United Drug plc, Annette held senior positions with Kerry Group plc working in their Irish, UK and US operations.
Annette has served on the Board for 7.2 years. Annette is a member of the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (7.2 years).
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Hugh Friel
Non-Executive Director
Hugh Friel was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 29 April 2009. Hugh was formerly Chief Executive of Kerry Group plc and Chairman of Tourism Ireland. Hugh also previously worked with Aer Lingus, New York, Mobile Oil Corp., London and Erin Foods, Ireland.
Hugh has served on the Board for 2.6 years. Hugh is a member of the Remuneration Committee (2.5 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (2.5 years).
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Peter Gray
Non-Executive Director
Peter Gray was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 28 September 2004. Peter is Vice Chairman and former Chief Executive of ICON plc, the Irish based multinational pharmaceutical development services company. Prior to joining ICON plc in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, Peter held senior executive positions, including that of Finance Director, in a number of Irish public companies. Peter is currently also a non-executive director of Danica Life Limited.
Peter has served on the Board for 7.2 years. Peter is a member of the Audit Committee (7.1 years), the Nomination Committee (5.4 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (7.2 years).
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Gary McGann
Non-Executive Director
Gary McGann was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 28 September 2004 and was appointed the Senior Independent nonexecutive director on 20 November 2007. Gary is Group Chief Executive of the Smurfit Kappa Group. Before joining the Jefferson Smurfit Group in 1998 as Chief Financial Officer, Gary held various senior executive positions in Irish industry. Gary is also Chairman of Aon McDonagh Boland, a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) and a director of IBEC.
Gary has served on the Board for 7.2 years. Gary is a member of the Remuneration Committee (5.4 years), the Nomination Committee (5.4 years) and the Acquisitions and Finance Committee (6.2 years).
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John Peter
Non-Executive Director
John Peter was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 1 September 2005. John is a member of the Board of Solvay UK Holdings Limited, responsible for co-ordinating Solvay’s business in the UK. John was formerly Chief Executive of Solvay Healthcare in the UK and Ireland and held various senior positions in research and development, international marketing and business development in Europe and the US.
John has served on the Board for 6.3 years. John is a member of the Audit Committee (6.1 years) and the Remuneration Committee (6.1 years).
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Philip Toomey
Non-Executive Director
Philip Toomey was appointed a non-executive director of United Drug plc on 27 February 2008. Philip was formerly Global Chief Operating Officer for the financial services industry practice of Accenture. Philip has wide ranging international consulting experience and was a member of the Accenture Global Leadership Council.
Philip has served on the Board for 3.8 years. Philip is a member of the Audit Committee (3.8 years), the Remuneration Committee (3.8 years) and the Nomination Committee (3.3 years).