BTG names non-executive chairman

Garry Watts is to succeed Dr John Brown as non-executive chairman of BTG, an international specialist healthcare company, on 1 January 2012.

Watts is chairman of the Spire Healthcare group of private hospitals. He is also the senior independent director at Stagecoach Group and a non-executive director of Coca-Cola Enterprises.

He was chief executive of SSL International for seven years until its sale in November 2010 to Reckitt Benckiser. He was a member of the supervisory board of the UK's Medicines Healthcare Research Agency for 17 years until 2008 and is a former executive director of Medeva and Celltech. He was also a non-executive director of Protherics until its acquisition by BTG in December 2008.

Louise Makin, chief executive of BTG, commented: ‘On behalf of the board, I'd like to thank John for his enormous contribution to BTG’s development, including his overall stewardship of the business and the support he has given to us all throughout his tenure as chairman.

‘Garry brings a wealth of experience from the healthcare and other sectors that will be of great benefit to BTG and we all look forward to working with him.’