Directors
Alongside our directors (below), we also have a group of experts among our senior management, technical and commercial teams that include numerous registered Pharmacists, Chemists, Microbiologists and Qualified Persons (QPs) with decades of experience in a range of disciplines relating to pharmaceutical development and manufacturing i.e. formulation, sterile fill/finish, aseptic processing, quality assurance and routine production in both large and small pharmaceutical companies.
Dianne Sharp
Managing Director
Managing Director
With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and senior management positions, Dianne joined SCM Pharma in 2010 and heads up the business overseeing its 80+ team.
Prior to this she was Managing Director at Bishop Auckland-based Mechetronics, the UK’s leading manufacturer of solenoids, successfully leading the business in establishing overseas facilities in India and China and the eventual sale of the business to a large US corporate.
Dianne is responsible for delivering the company strategy and all day-to-day operations at SCM Pharma, including improving operational efficiency, driving business growth and identifying of new markets.
A Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA), Dianne also has an MBA from Durham University and is a Non-Executive with Business & Enterprise Group.
Graham Dotchin
Commercial director
Commercial director
Overseeing all commercial activities, Graham is directly responsible for Finance and Business Development at SCM Pharma to help ensure the company is profitable, secure and sustainable.
With an ACA qualification in accountancy, he has spent the majority of his career in finance-related roles, predominantly in corporate finance, working on company disposals, acquisitions, fundraisings and grant applications.
Having initially joined the business on a secondment as its Finance Manager from Tait Walker in 2008, Graham returned to SCM Pharma in 2010 after being appointed as its new Commercial Director.
With a growing understanding of the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing sector and the needs of the market, Graham plays a key role in delivering a common sense approach to clients alongside his willingness to assist customers in structuring the most beneficial service offering to meet their specific needs.
Neal Wesley
Technical Director
Technical Director
Neal oversees the technical team at SCM Pharma to develop current capabilities, enhance operational efficiency, generate an increase in product throughput and scale, introduce novel technologies and deliver manufacturing solutions for clients’ projects.
His role helps widen our offering to service a wider spectrum of client projects relating to formulation development, clinical trials supply and commercial products.
He has a Bsc (hons) in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Sunderland and has an engineering background working for Rolls-Royce and Siemens following the completion an engineering apprenticeship with the former.
Neal spent a decade working as an R&D formulation chemist in a number of highly regulated industry sectors including the Pharmaceutical, Aviation and oil exploration. Amongst others, Neal has developed niche sterile sanitization chemicals for sterile processing, invented unique delivery devices for pharmaceutical application.
Fiona Cruickshank
Co-owner & Director
Co-owner & Director
A successful entrepreneur, Fiona is a leading business figure in the North East and has enjoyed an extensive 25-year career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fiona is a non-exec director at SCM Pharma, which she self-funded and set-up in 2004. The award-winning business is one of the world’s leading specialists in sterile contract manufacturing for the global pharmaceutical market. Fiona’s role involves her supporting the board on matters relating to strategy and vision.
Along with her role at SCM Pharma and on the board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, she is a founder at angel investment firm Gabriel Investors.
Away from ‘strictly business’, Fiona is a Trustee at world-renowned music venue The Sage Gateshead, disability charity Calvert Trust (Kielder) and Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Committed to supporting North East England's local knowledge economy, Fiona is a member of the Advisory Board and a former David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation at the Newcastle University Business School. She is also now a Fellow at the London School of Pharmacy, which was the University she graduated from in the late 80’s.
Fiona started her business life in 1999 when she established The Specials Laboratory in 1999, which she then sold in 2008. In 2010, she was awarded with an OBE following the unveiling of the Queen's annual Birthday Honours List for services to business in the North East.
Adam Sims
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Adam Sims joined the SCM Pharma board in 2011 bringing with him a 20 year track record in the global pharmaceutical and chemical sector.
Working closely with the executive team, he plays an advisory role in SCM Pharma’s ongoing expansion plans and was initially attracted to the company by its ‘jaw-dropping technology and impressive growth.’
Prior to joining, he spent seven years at Aesica in senior commercial and finance roles. He also has significant business experience in the manufacturing sector, successfully delivering strategic and operational growth targets.
Adam is also the Chair of the Blyth Valley Business Forum and the Vice Chairman of the Northumberland Business Network.
