Essential Pharma Strengthens Leadership Team With Appointment Of Industry Veterans Simon Ramsden And Rob Smith

Essential Pharma, a global pharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering medicines for niche patient populations, has announced two senior leadership appointments. Simon Ramsden has been named Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Rob Smith has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO), both effective immediately. Simon Ramsden brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, with a strong background in finance, business development, and mergers and acquisitions. 

He most recently served as CFO at Resolution Therapeutics and, prior to that, was Vice President and Head of Global Finance at EUSA Pharma, where he managed financial operations across nine international offices. Earlier in his career, Simon held various senior finance roles at GSK over a nine-year period, including managing global budgets within the Consumer Health R&D division. A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Simon has expertise in commercial finance, cross-functional team leadership, and strategic business growth in both startup and multinational environments.

Emma Johnson, CEO of Essential Pharma, said in a statement, “We are thrilled to welcome Simon and Rob to our leadership team at this pivotal time for Essential Pharma. Simon’s financial leadership and deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry will be crucial as we advance our development pipeline and pursue strategic opportunities for our growing portfolio. Rob’s broad experience in pharmaceutical operations and technology, combined with his track record of building successful teams, will help us accelerate our growth and enhance our operational excellence as we work to make a difference for patients in niche populations worldwide.”

Rob Smith joins as CTO with over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in operations, product development, and manufacturing strategy. He was most recently CEO of Surepharm Services Ltd and previously held senior roles at Catalent Pharma Solutions for over a decade. Rob has also worked at Patheon Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis, where he spent more than 12 years leading site development initiatives. His expertise spans quality systems, product innovation, and the integration of new technologies to support continuous improvement and commercial objectives across the pharmaceutical value chain. These appointments reflect Essential Pharma’s continued investment in strengthening its leadership team to support its strategic growth and innovation goals.