Biotec Services International has appointed one of Wales’ leading entrepreneurs as its new Non-Executive Director.
Ashley Cooper, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bridgend-based TES Aviation Group, joins the board of the award-winning leading global pharmaceutical services company to assist its international growth plans.
Since founding TES Aviation in 1995, Mr Cooper has grown the business from a two person start-up to a 135-strong, £100m ($165m) turnover company with offices in the UK, Singapore and the US.
Mr Cooper spear-headed the sale of a majority stake in TES Aviation to DVB Bank SE in 2007 and led the process of introducing Mitsubishi Corporation and Development Bank of Japan to the shareholder group, alongside DVB Bank in 2012.
Mr Cooper, who is a Welsh Government youth entrepreneurship ambassador and a Chartered Director (CDir) from the Institute of Directors (IoD), started his career at Rolls Royce PLC after graduating from Leeds University with a bachelor of mechanical engineering degree. Before establishing TES Aviation, Cooper spent five years with GE Aviation.
Dr Fiona Withey, Chief Executive Officer of Biotec, said: “I am delighted that Ashley is joining our board of directors. He has built TES from a start-up to the success it is now in under 20 years. His entrepreneurial instinct and track record of success in rapidly growing a multi-million pound business will be invaluable to our global expansion plans.”
On his appointment, Mr Cooper said: “It is an exciting time to be joining Biotec. The company has evolved significantly in recent years due to growing demand, a solid global reputation and industry expertise in handling high value, temperature sensitive products. I’m very keen to use my experience of growing TES Aviation internationally to help continue to develop, shape and influence the future of Biotec.”
In addition to Mr Cooper’s appointment, Biotec is strengthening its executive team with the promotion of Kevin Williams from Operations Manager to Director of Operations.
Mr Williams has 16 years’ commercial supply chain experience within a top ten pharmaceutical company prior to joining Biotec in 2012. Over the last two years, he has been instrumental to the development of Biotec’s second operations facility which has increased operational capacity and optimised client management processes.
In his new role, Mr Williams will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the company which includes Project Set Up, Packing and Labelling, Order Processing, Warehouse, System Data and Reports, Facilities and Material Sourcing.
Headquartered in South Wales, UK, Biotec Services International supports more than 100 clinical and commercial projects for over 75 customers, across 60 countries. It delivers efficient solutions for the packaging, distribution, transport and storage of temperature controlled pharmaceutical products including regenerative and cell-based therapies, working with virtual right through to blue chip international pharmaceutical companies.