Press Release
As a rapidly growing company, Illingworth Research Group (Illingworth) has reflected on its goals, accomplishments and ambitious future growth plans. This has allowed us to consider opportunities for staff to explore their own growth and development possibilities within a rapidly changing landscape. With that in mind, Illingworth are announcing some significant and exciting changes to our organization.
Illingworth remain committed to making patient involvement in clinical trials as stress free as possible and our strengthened management team and launch of our patient concierge service, PatientGO, in combination with global, mobile research nursing will ensure as many patients as possible have the chance to participate in the development of critical drugs, regardless of their geography or socioeconomic class.
The Senior Management Team has crafted a restructure plan for the organization to better meet the goals of this ambitious, rapidly expanding group. In terms of our staff structure, we are going to look different in the coming weeks and months.
“Over the last few years, I have brought in the very best talent in the industry. I am confident the company is in very safe hands and as Illingworth Research continues to deliver against our ambitions this change will allow us to even further enhance our governance and deliver great customer care. By separating the Chair and CEO function, we will be able to enhance our strategic oversight whilst also delivering the highest standards of quality. Whilst allowing me to take a more hands-off role within the company, enabling me to pursue my hobbies and interests which include endurance horse riding and farming I will still be taking an active interest in the company".
John Illingworth
The CEO position will be taken by the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), Helen Springford. Helen has been with Illingworth for the last 4 years and has, in that time been pivotal in bringing about huge process improvements and developed a superb Business Development and Marketing function to drive the company to the next level. Helen is a seasoned professional with almost 30 years industry experience. Her combination of nursing background, clinical and business skills will ensure Illingworth realise their goals over the coming years.
The expansion of our US business is critical to our success and with that in mind, we have appointed Juliet Moritz to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Based in Philadelphia, Juliet, or Jules as she is known, is a highly experienced pharmaceutical development professional with over 30 years in industry. Jules started her career as a study coordinator and has held positions of increasing responsibility working for both sponsor companies and CROs. Her most recent role as Vice President of Patient and Stakeholder Engagement at Premier Research is a testament to her commitment to patient centricity in clinical research and she has experience in driving new business growth as well as implementing infrastructure and new service offerings.
There has also been a restructure in Operations to ensure rapid and successful operational delivery of the work awarded to us. As part of this. Gerard Barron, previously Director of Clinical Operations, has recently been promoted to Vice President, Operations. Gerard has extensive experience leading teams and has successfully delivered many clinical projects from inception to completion across all phases and in various neurological, oncology, inflammatory, autoimmune and rare disease indications over the 25 years he has been in the pharmaceutical industry. Gerard has extensive project and programme management in various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including MedImmune/AZ for the last 10 years prior to Illingworth, Astex Therapeutics and GW Pharmaceuticals.
“I am delighted with my move to Illingworth. A patient centric approach to clinical trials has
at last been recognised as critical to the success of clinical trials and it is great to be working
with a company that recognised this 20 years ago. The team here, with their drive and
determination, is a pleasure to work with and I have enjoyed all of my time so far, I really
looking forward to playing my part in the leadership of this remarkable company as we
expand our services and reach more patients.”
Gerard Barron
Last, but not least our Director of Research Nursing, Juliet Hulse has been promoted to Senior Director Global Research Nursing Strategy and Patient Advocacy. Juliet was promoted to the role of Director of Research Nursing in 2016, having worked as Research Nurse Team Manager and, prior to that in a Site Coordinator/ Senior Research Nurse capacity. She has wide experience in the management of trial projects from initiation to close-out as well as working with site investigators to improve patient recruitment and patient retention to the study protocols. Juliet's nursing skills are broad and include ECG analysis, venepuncture, cannulation, advanced neurological assessment and the rapid response to complex adverse events. She believes developing strategies that place the patient at the centre of trials is vital for successful studies, and by ensuring protocols are adapted to enable patients to have a choice is invaluable for a clinical trial.
For further information please contact:
Helen Springford
Chief Executive Officer
helen.springford@illingworthresearch.com