North of England investor Northern Gritstone has appointed Fiona Marston OBE as a member of its investment committee.
Marston is the chair and CEO of the Coventry-based synthetic biology firm Erebagen, an entrepreneur in residence at the University of Reading, and an advisor for the £40m UKI2S seed fund.
“Fiona has unparalleled experience working with scaling businesses in biotech and life sciences,” said Duncan Johnson, chief executive of Northern Gritstone.
“We are delighted that she is joining Northern Gritstone’s Investment Committee as an independent member and she will play a vital role in shaping our approach as we look to back the most exciting businesses across the North of England.”
Marston said: “Building on its historic research strengths, the North of England has incredibly exciting prospects in biotech and life sciences.”
Northern Gritstone is due to announce new funding after Johnson told UKTN it had closed £50m with up to ‘£100m in the hopper’ in fresh funding.
Leeds-based photonic semiconductor Optalysys is the most recent northern business to receive backing from Northern Gritstone.
Its imminent funding close will not be the venture capital firm’s first funding boost of the year, with British Patient Capital supplying the regional investor with £30m in March.