With over 40 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, John is perhaps best known for launching Boehringer Ingelheim’s first blockbuster brand, Spiriva (for COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which achieved peak sales of more than €5 billion.

John first joined the pharmaceutical industry as a Medical Representative in 1974 and in 1982 he joined Boehringer Ingelheim.  Having built Spiriva as Head of Global Marketing he became Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand before returning to the UK as Managing Director for the UK and Ireland.  After a successful 31 year career with Boehringer Ingelheim John retired from the company at the end of 2013.

John holds a Natural Sciences Degree from Cambridge University and a Masters in Space Physics from Leicester University.