Executive team
About Oxford Nanopore
Executive team
The Oxford Nanopore executive team has combined experience in the development, manufacture and commercialisation of disruptive technologies including DNA sequencing. This includes a corporate function to support the Company's past and future fundraising activities.
Chief Executive Officer, CBE
Dr Gordon Sanghera
Dr Gordon Sanghera, CBE
Dr Gordon Sanghera is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he has led the development of pioneering nanopore-based sensing technology since 2005. Under his leadership, the company has grown significantly, culminating in a successful listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2021. Oxford Nanopore’s platform, including the MinION, Flongle, GridION, and PromethION sequencing devices, are now used in over 125 countries, enabling real-time, high-performance analysis of DNA and RNA, with potential to expand into proteomics and metabolomics.
Before co-founding Oxford Nanopore, Dr Sanghera held key positions at MediSense, an Oxford University spin-out, where he was instrumental in launching several generations of glucose monitoring systems. His roles included, Research and Development Director, VP of Worldwide Marketing, and Manufacturing Process Development Director, where he contributed to innovations that served both consumer and hospital medical markets.
Dr Sanghera holds a PhD in bioelectronics and a BSc in chemistry, both from Cardiff University. Throughout his career, he has been recognised for his contributions to biotechnology and innovation, including being named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2023, for driving advancements that have had a global impact on medical and scientific research.
Chief Financial Officer
Nick Keher
Nick Keher
Nick Keher is the Chief Financial Officer at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he oversees the Group’s finance function and investor relations. He brings significant experience in financial leadership within complex scientific businesses, contributing to the company's strategic financial planning and market positioning.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Nick served as CFO at both Clinigen Group and Benevolent AI, both listed businesses in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. His earlier career includes a role as Managing Director and Head of the European healthcare equity research team at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Prior to RBC, Nick held positions at Investec and GSK, following a transition from practising pharmacy to finance.
Nick’s academic background includes qualifications in pharmacy, which laid the foundation for his deep understanding of the life sciences sector. His extensive experience in capital markets and financial management equips him with the tools to navigate the complexities of the industry, ensuring robust financial health and investor confidence for Oxford Nanopore.
Chief Strategy Officer
Dr Spike Willcocks
Dr Spike Willcocks
Dr Spike Willcocks is the Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he oversees the company’s strategic direction and long-term planning. He joined the company full-time in 2006, initially leading the Corporate and Business Development function.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Spike worked at IP Group, an intellectual property investment business, starting in 2001 as one of its early employees. He ultimately led the Life Sciences group, where he was instrumental in the formation of Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
Spike holds a BSc in chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in biochemistry, both from the University of Oxford. His academic background, coupled with his extensive experience in life sciences and business development, positions him as a key figure in shaping the future of Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
Chief Operating Officer
Tim Cowper
Tim Cowper
Tim Cowper is the Chief Operating Officer at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he ensures that the company’s values of agility and entrepreneurialism are integrated into corporate governance, risk control, and business processes. Tim initially joined Oxford Nanopore as interim Finance Director in 2009, where he established a stable finance infrastructure, and later returned in 2012 as Commercial Operations Director, before being appointed COO in 2023. In his first five years with the company, Tim was instrumental in setting up and managing operations across the organisation, including leading the operations for Oxford Nanopore’s first product launch, the MinION Access Programme, in 2015. He also selected and implemented the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which has remained robust and fit for purpose throughout Oxford Nanopore’s rapid growth. Tim moved back to lead the finance team in 2017, becoming CFO in 2021 during which time he prepared the company for its listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Tim qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young and later became Financial Controller of Celltech Group plc, where he was a key member of the IPO team and managed several transactions for the listed company. Tim co-founded Sterilox, overseeing its finance function, before serving as Finance Director at Clipper Ventures plc. His career also includes roles as Finance Director at British Biotech plc (Vernalis plc) and managing a portfolio of biotech and technology companies, including the AIM-listed Bioventix plc.
Tim holds a degree in Economics from the University of Sussex.
Global Head, SVP, Corporate Affairs
Zoe McDougall
Zoe McDougall
Zoe McDougall is the Global Head and Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Oxford Nanopore, where she leads the company's efforts to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, including scientific researchers, governments, and policymakers. Since joining the company in 2008, Zoe has shaped Oxford Nanopore’s external communications, strategic marketing, and investor relations, while also focusing on the role of culture in driving organisational effectiveness. Zoe has been central to ensuring that Oxford Nanopore’s narrative is clear and compelling to diverse audiences, helping to position the company as a leader in the genomics space.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Zoe gained extensive experience across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. She has worked with companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and, through her role at Porter Novelli, consulted for industry leaders including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Novartis, as well as emerging innovative brands.
Zoe holds a BSc in physiology from the University of Bristol and has further developed her expertise through programs at the Saïd Business School in Oxford and at the London School of Economics. Throughout her time at Oxford Nanopore, Zoe has been instrumental in building and nurturing the company’s external presence, creating communication channels that ensure the company's technology and philosophy are well understood. She played a key role in building the company's marketing functions and was an integral part of the team that led Oxford Nanopore through its IPO.
SVP, Global Human Resources
Sarah Lapworth
Sarah Lapworth
Sarah is the SVP of Global Human Resources at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, having joined the company in 2011. In her role, Sarah leads strategies to recruit, retain, and develop top talent across the globe, ensuring that the company’s workforce aligns with its mission and core values. Sarah's leadership has been pivotal in building a workforce that embodies the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence, positioning Oxford Nanopore as an employer of choice in the biotech industry.
Sarah’s career began with a Business Apprenticeship in 1996, followed by national and global roles in the automotive, medical device, and biotech industries. She played a key role in designing and implementing ADC’s transformation programme, and her extensive experience has been crucial in supporting Oxford Nanopore’s transition from an early-stage R&D start-up to a global commercial business.
Sarah is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and holds a BA (Hons) in business studies and human resource management, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in human resource management. Under Sarah’s leadership, Oxford Nanopore has cultivated a culture rooted in collaboration, flexibility, and a commitment to the physical and mental well-being of its employees.
SVP, General Counsel
Jordan Herman
Jordan Herman
Jordan Herman is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, leading the company’s global legal function. Since joining Oxford Nanopore in 2021, Jordan has grown and shaped an in-house team focused on enabling business innovation, facilitating strategic growth, and ensuring robust legal and ethical compliance aligned with the company’s core values.
Jordan brings extensive expertise in technology transfer, commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing, and venture capital transactions. Prior to joining Oxford Nanopore, he was a Partner at Baker Botts L.L.P., serving as Oxford Nanopore’s outside counsel for over a decade and supporting its journey from a small startup to a global leader in genomic technology. At Baker Botts, he held roles including Chair of the Austin Office Corporate Department and Co-Chair of the Life Sciences group, advising high-growth businesses across life sciences, software, medical devices, and digital media sectors worldwide.
Jordan holds a JD from The Ohio State University and a degree in Political Economy from Washington University. Following law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. James Rosenbaum, former Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. His breadth of experience uniquely positions him to lead Oxford Nanopore’s legal strategies, navigating growth, innovation, and global compliance.
Chief Product & Marketing Officer
Rosemary Sinclair Dokos MBA
Rosemary Sinclair Dokos MBA
Rosemary Sinclair Dokos is Chief Product & Marketing Officer at Oxford Nanopore, joining the company in January 2014. Her initial role included the implementation of product management, release and distribution framework around the MinION Access Programme.
Rosemary is responsible for the management and release of all Oxford Nanopore devices, chemistry and software products. Part of this role is to ensure that teams across R&D, production, commercial and operations work together to accelerate innovation from our research teams into the hands of the customer and scale our offering to our growing user base. Rosemary and her team maintain a close connection with our user community, ensuring their experiences of using Oxford Nanopore devices inform our product development cycle.
Rosemary has over 15 years’ experience in the life science industry. Prior to joining Oxford Nanopore, she led the Market Development and Life Science division of VWR UK where she was responsible for teams in technical sales, field marketing and contracts. In this role she worked with customers across all scientific industry sectors and managed a portfolio of over 600,000 products. Rosemary holds a BSc in Marine Sciences from the University of Southampton and is currently undertaking an executive MBA at Warwick Business School.
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Lakmal Jayasinghe
Dr. Lakmal Jayasinghe
Dr Lakmal Jayasinghe is the Chief Scientific Officer at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he leads the company's scientific vision, driving groundbreaking research and development to advance innovation in nanopore sequencing and its transformative applications.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore in 2006, Dr Jayasinghe completed his PhD in chemical biology at the University of Oxford, where he was a member of the Hagan Bayley group. His research focused on the study and engineering of nanopores using genetic and chemical approaches, providing him with a deep understanding of nanopore technology. During his tenure at Oxford Nanopore, the company has achieved unprecedented advancements in sequencing accuracy, throughput, and versatility, enabling global researchers to explore applications spanning genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenetics. Lakmal has also championed advancements in direct RNA sequencing, revolutionising the study of native RNA molecules and their modifications, both in academic research and the biopharma industry. Over his time with Oxford Nanopore, Lakmal has held several leadership positions, including Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist, and Vice President, where he has led interdisciplinary R&D teams in biologics.
Dr Jayasinghe actively collaborates with worldwide academic partners to ensure that Oxford Nanopore leverages the best biological components and chemistries in its platforms. He actively supports initiatives in education, skill development, and partnerships aimed at democratising access to sequencing technology. A strong advocate for multi-omics approaches, Lakmal envisions a future where Oxford Nanopore’s technology seamlessly integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to tackle complex biological questions and improve human health.
Departmental leaders
SVP Population Health & Precision Medicine
Kathleen Barnes
Kathleen Barnes
Dr Kathleen Barnes is the Senior Vice President of Population Health and Precision Medicine, where she leads initiatives that integrate biomedical informatics, multi-omics platforms, and translational research to advance precision medicine and promote health equity. In her role, Dr Barnes is responsible for driving strategic projects that ensure personalised healthcare approaches are implemented effectively across diverse populations, making significant contributions to the field of genomic medicine.
Before assuming her current role, Dr Barnes had a distinguished career at leading institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of Colorado. From 1993 to 2015, she was instrumental in building and leading interdisciplinary research and clinical programs at Johns Hopkins, and she later founded the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine, further advancing the application of precision medicine. Additionally, she served as Senior Vice President of Population Genomics Health at Tempus Labs from 2021 to 2023, where she played a key role in expanding the company’s genomics initiatives.
Dr Barnes holds a BSN from the Medical College of Virginia, a PhD in biomedical anthropology from the University of Florida, and has completed a postdoctoral fellowship in immunogenetics at Johns Hopkins University. Her extensive academic and professional background positions her as a leader in population health and precision medicine, driving innovative approaches in the healthcare industry.
SVP, Sales and Commercial Operations
Richard Compton
Richard Compton
Richard Compton is the Senior Vice President of Sales and Commercial Operations at Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Since joining the company in 2016, Richard has played a crucial role in building the commercial team from the ground up. He is now responsible for leading key commercial operations units, including global IT, business systems, digital services, global commercial operations, and technical and customer services. Richard's leadership is instrumental in ensuring that Oxford Nanopore’s commercial systems, processes, and teams are prepared to scale and support the company’s continued growth.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Richard had built a career at Illumina, where he served as Vice President and General Manager for the EMEA region. At Illumina, Richard led a team of over 300 people and grew revenues by over $300 million in three years. He also played a key role in supporting multiple population-scale sequencing programs, including Genomics England and deCODE genetics. Richard’s extensive experience in customer relationship management is highlighted by his leadership in supporting the Abu Dhabi Genome Programme, a pioneering initiative in personalised medicine for the region. He also brings 12 years of experience as Senior Vice President and General Manager (EMEA) at Dassault Systèmes Biovia.
Richard holds a BSc in biochemistry with cell and molecular biology from the University of Birmingham. His extensive background in commercial operations and strategic leadership has been vital to Oxford Nanopore's success in scaling its global impact.
VP, Engineering
Ant Jones
Ant Jones
Ant Jones is Vice President of Engineering at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he oversees the transformation of product concepts into fully realised, production-ready systems. His responsibilities encompass industrial design, mechanical and electronic engineering, as well as the development and validation of production processes and equipment. His work is critical to ensuring the seamless progression of Oxford Nanopore’s innovative products from idea to market.
Ant has over 20 years’ experience in product development, predominantly within the medical device sector, with a proven record of successfully guiding products from initial concept to regulatory-approved commercialisation. Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Ant served as Head of Design at Lombard Medical Technologies, where he developed a Class III AAA endovascular stent graft system, securing global regulatory approval. His extensive design experience also spans orthopaedics, in-vitro diagnostics (IVD), automotive, and plastics manufacturing.
Throughout his career, Ant has demonstrated leadership in complex engineering environments, consistently delivering innovative solutions that meet stringent regulatory standards and commercial objectives. His deep expertise ensures Oxford Nanopore continues to deliver cutting-edge, high-quality products that empower scientific discovery worldwide.
VP, Commercial Operations
Nirmala Santiapillai
Nirmala Santiapillai
Nirmala Santiapallai is Vice President of Commercial Operations at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where she leads global customer service, technical support, and commercial operations functions. Since joining the company in 2020, Nirmala has developed regionalised customer service teams, ensuring tailored, responsive support for customers worldwide.
Nirmala brings extensive experience from the healthcare industry, spanning programme leadership, business improvement, customer experience, and commercial strategy. Before Oxford Nanopore, she held senior roles at General Electric Healthcare, focusing on marketing, commercial strategy, and customer service, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction across global teams. Her leadership has included building effective teams, driving process improvements, and successfully integrating business process outsourcing to streamline operational workflows.
Nirmala holds a PhD in Neurochemistry from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London. She remains dedicated to continuous improvement and customer-focused innovation, emphasising automation and technical excellence to enhance customer experience and enable Oxford Nanopore’s growth ambitions.
VP, Intellectual Property
Martyn Andrews
Martyn Andrews
Martyn Andrews is Vice President of Intellectual Property at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, overseeing the company’s global IP strategy, portfolio management, and supporting litigation efforts. Since joining Oxford Nanopore in 2011, Martyn has been instrumental in building and protecting a comprehensive patent portfolio spanning diverse technologies including protein engineering, microfabrication, informatics, and solid-state physics. He manages a robust intellectual property estate comprising approximately 600 patents and applications globally, including key licensed IP collaborations.
With extensive experience both in-house and at a leading law firm, Martyn has spent much of his career guiding startup technology companies through complex patent landscapes and high-stakes litigation. Prior to Oxford Nanopore, he held senior IP roles at Rouse, Alere Inc., and Inverness Medical, where he led patent prosecution, supported international IP litigation, and played pivotal roles in corporate IP strategy during periods of rapid growth and major acquisitions. His industry experience is complemented by ten years as a patent examiner at the European Patent Office, specialising in electrochemistry and energy storage technologies.
Martyn holds a BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Electrochemistry from the University of Southampton, as well as a postgraduate certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Brunel University London. He is a qualified European Patent Attorney and brings deep expertise to ensuring Oxford Nanopore’s innovations remain strategically protected worldwide.
VP, Finance
Phil Watkins
Phil Watkins
Phil Watkins is the Vice President of Finance at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he leads the company’s finance function. Since joining the company full-time in 2020, after consulting for Oxford Nanopore since 2018, Phil has overseen the finance department, including financial and management reporting. His role is crucial in ensuring the preparation of accurate and timely financial information, enabling senior leadership to make informed management decisions. Phil played a key role in the company’s fundraising efforts in 2019 and 2020, and has successfully led a major restructuring of the finance team.
Before his tenure at Oxford Nanopore, Phil amassed significant corporate finance experience across acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures, and gained broad commercial experience in both the private and public sectors. He served as Managing and Finance Director of GEO Group Inc’s UK subsidiary, where he successfully secured several high-profile outsourcing contracts. Additionally, Phil held senior group finance roles at Jarvis plc, including M&A Director, and served as Finance Director for several start-up environmental tech companies.
Phil began his career at Ernst & Young and holds a BSc in agriculture from the University of Reading. His extensive experience in finance and strategic leadership has been instrumental in supporting Oxford Nanopore’s financial growth and stability.
VP, Operations
Rhodri Davies
Rhodri Davies
Rhodri Davies is the Vice President of Operations at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he works collaboratively across Departments to ensure alignment and delivery of the company’s strategic goals. Since joining Oxford Nanopore in 2011 as Director of Chip Production, Rhodri has led the design and delivery of scale up infrastructure projects such as MinION and Spectrum buildings and has played a crucial role the evolution of our technology and of our Technology transfer, Manufacturing and Quality functions, supporting the commercialisation of the company’s science with a customer-first focus.
Rhodri's extensive experience in microengineering, which began in 1999, has been instrumental in delivering solutions to a wide range of customers across military and commercial markets. Prior to his current role, he was the Process Manager within the Sensors & Electronics Group at QinetiQ, where he developed his expertise in material science research, product and process development, technology transfer, manufacturing, and performance management. Rhodri has contributed significantly to the field with three patents and over 12 publications.
Rhodri holds a BSc in physics from the University of Wales, and his deep technical expertise and leadership experience continue to drive the successful operation and scaling of Oxford Nanopore’s production capabilities.
VP, Manufacturing
Jeremy Bryar
Jeremy Bryar
Jeremy Bryar is Vice President of Flow Cell and Biologics Manufacturing at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, overseeing all manufacturing operations. Since joining in 2014 as Director of Continuous Improvement, he has been pivotal in establishing the company’s first manufacturing operation and scaling it for growth. Jeremy led the design and fit-out of the MinION Building, the company’s new manufacturing and logistics site. Currently leading a team of 130, he is responsible for planning future UK expansions and developing overseas manufacturing. Jeremy is committed to advancing sequencing technology, focusing on bringing impactful products to market with broad global applications for good.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Jerry had a distinguished career at Abbott Laboratories, where he served in a number of senior operations roles and working as a Master Black Belt, supporting the deployment of Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement methodologies across Europe. With over 40 years of experience, he has worked extensively in the manufacture of medical devices, nutritional products, and biotechnology.
Jerry holds a strong commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence, driving Oxford Nanopore’s manufacturing capabilities to new heights.
VP, Global Supply Chain
Alvaro Correia
Alvaro Correia
Alvaro Correia is the Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, responsible for leading the company’s global supply chain strategy and operations. Since joining in 2017, he has played a central role in scaling and professionalising the function, implementing advanced systems, establishing resilient processes, and building high-performing teams across sourcing, planning, warehousing, and distribution. His focus on operational agility and efficiency has supported the company’s rapid growth and enabled continuity during periods of significant global disruption.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, Alvaro held senior supply chain and operations roles across the high-tech, scientific instrumentation, and manufacturing sectors. His experience includes leading international facility relocations, complex transformation programmes, and end-to-end supply chain optimisation.
He holds an MBA from Henley Business School, a HND in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg and various supply chain qualifications from ASCM and CIPS.
VP Legal, Associate General Counsel
Hannah Coote
Hannah Coote
Hannah Coote is the Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where she specialises in corporate law. Since joining the company in 2020, Hannah has been a key advisor on corporate transactions, governance, compliance, and commercial matters. Her role involves collaborating with legal colleagues worldwide to establish the legal team as an innovative and pragmatic partner within the business, supporting Oxford Nanopore’s growth and strategic initiatives.
Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Hannah served as legal counsel at IP Group plc, a FTSE 250 intellectual property commercialisation company, where she provided legal services to the group and its portfolio of companies. She also held the role of company secretary for AIM-listed AI company Mirriad Advertising plc. Hannah began her legal career at the US law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where she trained and qualified, specialising in venture capital and M&A transactions with a focus on the technology sector.
Hannah's extensive experience in corporate law and her dedication to supporting innovative businesses have been instrumental in her role at Oxford Nanopore, contributing to the company’s mission of driving transformative technological advancements.
VP, Licensing and Research Sponsorship
Kristen Stoops
Kristen Stoops
Kristen Sloops is Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Business Development at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, bringing two decades of experience at the intersection of biology and informatics. She is responsible for shaping strategic marketing initiatives and fostering new business opportunities, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in innovative genomic technologies.
Kristen has a strong track record in commercial strategy and business development within life sciences and informatics. Prior to joining Oxford Nanopore, she directed the life sciences commercial partner programme at Spotfire (now part of Tibco). Her career has included roles such as Director of Informatics Business Development at Helicos BioSciences and Senior Director of Strategic Marketing and New Business Development at Merck’s Rosetta Biosoftware business unit. In 2009, Kristen co-founded Neotron, a technology firm specialising in nuclear detection innovations.
Kristen holds both an MA and a BA in Physics. Her expertise bridges scientific research and commercial innovation, underpinning her commitment to advancing Oxford Nanopore’s strategic growth and impact across global markets.