New Chair of the Board appointed at Tamar Science Park

Following a national recruitment campaign and an intensive selection process, prominent businessman Simon Chamberlain has been appointed as Chair of the Tamar Science Park (TSP) Board.

Simon, the founder and Chief Executive of Succession Advisory Services, has been a Board member and latterly interim Chair at TSP and played a key role in integrating it into the region’s new growth programme – the Growth Acceleration and Investment Network (GAIN).

Among his many roles and non-executive positions, Simon is a member of the Plymouth Growth Board and an adviser to Plymouth University.

Speaking of his appointment, Simon Chamberlain said: “I am delighted to accept the role as Chair of the Board and lead the next phase of its development. Working in partnership with our key stakeholders, Tamar Science Park is well positioned to enhance the University’s enterprise mission and deliver on the City’s ambitious growth plans.”

“I want to see the Park acting as a hub for the private sector to achieve capital growth and establish national recognition for the key sectors that sit at the heart of our activities in particular e-commerce, renewables and marine together with health and medical.

“Tamar Science Park is already the largest science park west of Oxford and we are ambitious for its future in helping turn innovation into a commercial reality.”

Simon joined the financial services sector directly from university, and in his early career held senior positions in both Merchant Investors and Royal Life. He became a founding partner of J. Rothschild Assurance (now known as St. James's Place Capital), and after its flotation in 1997 was appointed as National Development Director for Zurich Advice Network, an amalgamation of all the financial services companies owned by Zurich in the U.K, including Eagle Star, Allied Dunbar and Abbey Life.

In 2003, following legislation changes within the sector, Simon launched Thinc, a ‘one stop shop’ incorporating a broad range of services. When Thinc Group (now knows as BlueFin) was sold to AXA four years later, it had grown into a £75m turnover business, with £3bn of funds under management

Simon has since pursued other opportunities, founding his own consultancy business in 2007 and a wealth management consolidation business in November 2008 called Succession Advisory Services. Succession now has 32 Member firms that control over £5bn worth of assets. He is also a board member of the Tax Incentive and Savings Association (TISA), and has a host of other Non-Executive appointments including Defaqto; Goss Interactive; international PR company Loco Comms; and ICO3 a Plymouth based E-commerce business.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Plymouth University, said: “Simon came through as the outstanding candidate in a very strong national field and shares our vision of putting Tamar Science Park at the very heart of our enterprise and innovation agenda.

“His extensive private sector knowledge and experience, especially of the investment scene, adds real value to the role. We look forward to continuing to work with Simon and help deliver on the potential of the Park in enabling the substantial knowledge base in the area to be turned into commercially viable businesses and new jobs.”

Councillor Ted Fry, Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Growth, added: “We are delighted with Simon Chamberlain’s appointment as Chair. He is an outstanding choice to lead the Park in a new direction and enable it to play its full part in the City’s growth agenda.

“His private sector background, national and wealth of experience will be a considerable asset to the Park. We look forward to working in partnership with him to grow and diversify the city’s economy."

The recruitment process for Non-Executive Directors to the Board will now commence with the members seeking a range of experience and skills.

ENDS