Meet the Team

Image of Richard King, Significare Co-Founder and CEO

Dr. Richard King MB ChB, MRCGP

  • Richard has 33 years’ experience in frontline NHS care across the full range of sectors as a doctor, including day-to-day general practice, urgent care, hospital care and residential settings. His experience includes elderly complex discharge planning with multidisciplinary teams, case conferences, and visiting and treating patients across the spectrum of general practice. He interacts daily with social workers and professional teams. He led his practice through substantial changes, acquiring senior leadership experience of all aspects of healthcare provision and operational management.

    Richard will lead Significare in all operations as a full-time CEO.

Image of Marilyn Shields, Co-Founder and COO of Significare

Marilyn Shields

  • As a senior manager within the NHS, Marilyn has a wealth of experience across hospital care (client service) and General Practice, including operational management of two large and profitable GP group practices. She combines her skills as an experienced practice manager and hospital performance manager with experience in regulated and compliance-focused roles, including extensive experience of management within the UK high street banking sector.

    Marilyn will manage all aspects of Significare operations as full-time COO.

Image of Carol Holland, Significare Academic & Research Lead

Professor Carol Holland

  • Professor Holland has a career background in gerontology with published papers on the subject. She is internationally recognised in this field, with several ongoing or recently completed projects focussing on frailty including cognitive and psychological frailty, on COVID-19 lockdown impacts, and on active engagement in later life. She is currently the lead for the International, Interdisciplinary Network on Cognitive Frailty (CFIN) (BBSRC and MRC funded). She is Director of the Centre for Ageing Research at Lancaster University.

    Professor Holland will advise Significare on policy and academic research on healthy ageing, as well as IP development.

Image of James Jenkinson, Significare Board Advisor

James Jenkinson

  • James has over 20 years of experience on SME boards, holding Managing Director and Sales Director positions in engineering and manufacturing companies. Since 2020, James has advised SME growth companies and technology start-ups in strategic analysis, business planning, financial modelling, start-up and advisory team building. He is a small-scale angel investor.

    James has previously worked for The British Army, Denios and Business Growth Management Ltd.

    James is supporting Significare fundraising in investment rounds and will help the CEO and management team to deliver planned results.

Image of Dr Paula Walker, Significare Growth & Strategy Advisor

Dr Pamela Walker

  • Pamela has 20 years’ experience in consulting and acquisition advisory in the Pharma, MedTech and Private Equity space. Pamela holds a number of board advisory positions and is a Partner at Gate One, heading up the Life Sciences practice and the Gate One Incubator, where she works closely with start-up entrepreneurs. Pamela is also a member of Angel Academe and invests as part of THENA Capital, focusing on innovative MedTech digital solutions and fast-tracked devices that create transformative health experiences.

    Pamela will advise Significare on strategic development and commercialisation.

Image of Ian Rotsey, Significare CFO

Ian Rotsey

  • Ian is an experienced finance professional with extensive experience of both audit and industry roles in the UK and overseas, spanning the SME market, M&A and not-for profit organisations.

    Ian has previously worked for KPMG, Sainsbury’s and numerous start-ups.

    Ian will provide strategic financial support and advice to Significare and oversee day-to-day operational financial and governance matters.

Image of Chris Gough, Significare CTO

Chris Gough

  • Chris has over 30 years’ experience in the IT sector, including programme management, sales governance, operational oversight and IT outsourcing. He provides guidance and direction to SMEs on digital technology, with a focus on business planning and business efficiency improvement.

    Chris has previously worked for Hewlett Packard and is Co-founder of Silverpreneurs Ltd.

    Chris will support Significare in all technical and IT matters, including development, testing and launch of the Significare web and mobile platform.

Image of Siobhan Lavelle, CMO

Siobhán Lavelle

  • Siobhán is an experienced marketing and communications consultant, having worked as a consultant and senior in-house executive across a wide range of organisations, including global consultancy, not-for-profit, public sector, multi-national corporations and SMEs. This has included senior leadership roles within the NHS and global healthcare companies.

    Siobhán has previously worked for the NHS, AstraZeneca, GSK and Merck.

    Siobhán will lead marketing and PR for Significare, including strategic planning, analysis and implementation.

William Blumenthal, Significare Legal Director

William Blumenthal

  • William is a highly experienced commercial lawyer, general counsel and legal adviser to SME, particularly those in the technology and health sectors. He has wide experience across a range of legal specialisms, including commercial law, technology and software licensing, Corporate Finance, intellectual property, and employment Law.

    William has previously worked for MDS Global and TLD.

    William will support Significare in all legal matters.