Meet the Team
Dr Andy Chapman
CEO & CO-FOUNDERAndy is a chemist by training with more than 12 years’ experience in multiple areas of chemistry, biotechnology and diagnostics. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Bristol. After two postdoctoral positions, he joined a London-based start-up – Econic Technologies – focused on the commercialisation of a CO2/epoxide polymerisation technology before moving to Kingston University London to begin his independent academic career, where he was appointed Senior Lecturer. His research at Kingston was focused on creation of supramolecular sensors for small molecules.
In 2017, Andy returned to Bristol to join Ziylo as CSO, where he led the company’s scientific team during its transition from the university to private laboratories (now at Science Creates). Later that year, he was appointed as a director and ultimately played a critical role in guiding the company towards its landmark acquisition by Novo Nordisk in August 2018. During the acquisition, Andy co-founded Carbometrics to commercialise the same Glucose Binding Molecule technology for glucose sensing applications, under license from Novo Nordisk, and closed a ca. £650K seed investment round upon incorporation.
In 2020, Andy was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Rising Star in Industry’ award for his efforts so far, and in 2021 he led the first institutional fundraising, securing £2.1M in an oversubscribed bridge-to-series A round. In August 2022, Andy led and closed a major Series A investment into Carbometrics by a medical device company that has set the course for the company to commercialise its revolutionary CGM technology. He recently completed his MBA with the Biotechnology Business Institute and also serves as an advisor and NED to several other small life science companies.
Dr Harry Destecroix
Director & Co-founderHarry is a driven entrepreneur who completed his PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry at the University of Bristol. He has an in-depth knowledge of this technology and the field of chemical carbohydrate sensing in general. He is also the director and co-founder of two sister companies that have enabled the growth of Carbometrics.
Keith MacDonald
Chairman & CO-FOUNDERKeith is a former senior executive of Lloyds Banking Group with many years of corporate finance experience. He acts as director and/or mentor to several companies ranging from a recent start-up in the hospitality sector to an AIM-listed software company with a market cap of >£500 million.
Chris Jones
Non-Executive DirectorChris is a former medtech CEO with 30 years of experience leading new medical products from concept through to market adoption in both venture funded and Fortune 500 companies. Currently Executive Chairman of Global Access Health Ltd, and Non-Executive Director for AIM listed Deltex Medical, MediSieve Ltd, Causeway Therapeutics and Health Enterprise East, Mr Jones is a US national who came to the UK in 2008 to become CEO of GlySure where he led the development of the world’s first continuous intravascular glucose sensor from proof of concept to CE approval.
In his current roles, in addition to strategic direction, fundraising and partnership development, Mr Jones provides hands on support for business-critical areas that are often under-resourced in early stage companies including IP strategy, market assessment, contract negotiation and commercialisation planning.
Prof Anthony Davis
Chairman of Scientific Advisory BoardProfessor Davis M.A. D.Phil. (Oxon.) FRSC is Professor of Supramolecular Chemistry at University of Bristol where he has been a world-leading expert in the development of synthetic glucose binding molecules for over 20 years.
Dr Andy Heron
Scientific AdvisorAndy is a Chemist by training, with degree and PhD from Imperial College. Driven to leverage cutting edge biotechnology, with a focus on exploiting membrane-proteins for single-molecule biosensing, he is addressing unmet needs in fields such as healthcare, environment and science. Andy was instrumental in the development of nanopore sequencing, having worked on the technology first at Oxford University with Prof. Hagan Bayley. Following this, he spent 9 years at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, most recently as the Senior Director of Advanced Research, and is an author and inventor on many publications and patents in the field.
Dr Robert Tromans
Head Of ResearchHe is a passionate scientist who completed his PhD under Prof Anthony Davis at the University of Bristol, where he discovered the new GBM platform. As a result, he has a comprehensive understanding of the technology central to Carbometrics, as well as a vast array of skills in synthetic, analytical and supramolecular chemistry. Rob is responsible for maintaining the scientific course taken in the laboratory on a weekly basis as well as coordinating the long-term research projects undertaken in the lab.
Dr Daniel Leonard
Head of Research OperationsDan is an accomplished executive with more than 10 years of synthetic organic chemistry and research management experience in laboratories around the world.
His skills in business administration help to drive growth, profitability and strategic alliances. Expertise with highly polar chemistry, process development and IP protection also make him well suited to a role at Carbometrics.
Dr Mike Orchard
Principal ScientistMike has over 25 years experience in synthetic organic chemistry and has held a number of senior positions in several companies. He has invaluable experience of process development and medicinal chemistry.
Dr Michael Tomsett
Lead Synthetic ChemistMichael is a multifaceted chemist, having laboratory experience in the world-leading chemistry departments of Oxford, Manchester and Bristol, as well as the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton. His PhD in molecular communication has provided him with extensive skills in supramolecular and peptide chemistry.
Dr Matthew Skeats
Senior ScientistMatthew studied Chemistry at the University of York, before completing a highly interdisciplinary PhD in biomaterials at the University of Bristol. Matthew has a wide range of skills and experience in the fields of materials science, polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry and microbiology.
Dr Jack Rogers
Senior ScientistJack is a proficient synthetic chemist, having completed his PhD at the University of Bristol following a masters degree at the University of Oxford. Under the supervision of Prof. Varinder Aggarwal, he worked on automated synthesis, total synthesis, and methodology development within the context of boronic ester functionalisations, providing him with extensive technical and chemical knowledge.
Yvonne Olver
Head of OperationsAs an experienced C-Suite facilitator, Yvonne has managed Executive Offices for a Pro Vice-Chancellor and two Vice-Chancellors at three different universities. She was EA to the Head of the School of Chemistry and was Office Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Bristol. Yvonne has lived and worked in South East Asia, The Middle East, Europe, Australia and North America.
Jackie Turnbull
Independent AdvisorJackie is the CEO of IsomAb Ltd, a biotech company developing an antibody therapy in the cardiovascular field and has over 30 years of experience in Business Development and Licensing. Jackie has extensive commercial expertise, strategic insight and a broad knowledge of the global biotech and pharmaceutical industry.
Jackie is the co-owner of Plexsus Consulting Services Ltd. and has provided specialist support to start-up companies and larger biotech companies, in multiple therapy areas, including diabetes, immune-oncology and vaccines, to identify and negotiate deals for the commercialisation of single assets or sale of companies. She was Commercial Director for GeneMedix plc, a biosimilars company, where she was part of the team who completed a dual listing of GeneMedix (GMX) on the London and Singapore Stock Exchanges. She has worked for PA Consulting Group, Novo Nordisk A/S, Boehringer Ingelheim and Warner Lambert.
Jackie is on the Board of Imophoron Ltd and served on the Board of Carbometrics Ltd between March 2020-2023. She also served on the Board of CanImGuide Therapeutics AB, a Swedish immuno-oncology company.