David Ellam
Tel: 07971 168 247
Email: david.ellam@emcltd.co.uk
David is an experienced accountant who has held senior financial management positions since 1996 with companies such as GE Capital Insurance, Morgan Stanley, Ark Therapeutics Plc and Plethora Solutions Plc.
After graduating from Birmingham University in 1985, his early career was spent with Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) where he ended up as Audit Supervisor. Other pre-1996 roles included FC at an advertising company, internal auditor at Smith & Nephew Plc and Group Management Accountant at Berkley Homes Plc.
David is currently working as an interim CFO/COO with a start-up company that owns patents for biocides. He works alongside the MD to secure licensing deals for the IP at the same time as helping to grow a new consumer brand of hand-sanitizers and antiseptic wipes. Because David has an understanding of what it takes to run a business with limited cashflow, he has also been put in charge of production scheduling and the purchasing of raw materials.
He joined EMC in January 2010 and has a practical "sleeves rolled up" approach to getting the job done.
Specialist Disciplines
- Finance Director
- Financial Planning
- Process-Change Management
- Business Strategy
- Cashflow management
- Corporate Finance
Sector Experience
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Credit Cards
- Creditor Insurance
- Housebuilding
Prior to joining EMC, David spent eight years with two biotech companies as Group FC and Group CFO. During that time he:
- Contributed heavily to an IPO and two subsequent placings, raising over £100m;
- Managed a £12m project for a new manufacturing plant;
- Led an ERP system implementation encompassing general ledger, purchasing and inventory control to pharmaceutical GMP standards;
- Provided continual operational support to a Finnish subsidiary with a new MD;
- Mentored his eventual replacement;
- Raised over £3m in equity and debt for an AIM-listed plc that was in great financial difficulties, providing it with a runway to enable a valuable product to be sufficiently developed and sold to pay off most of the debts;
- Carried out due diligence of acquisition projects, including a potential US pharmaceutical manufacturing firm for $30m;
- Managed the post-acquisition integration of an overseas subsidiary including substantial Human Resources work on equalization of grading and pay bands;
- Gave regular presentations to Board and Audit Committees;
- Instigated a major review of a company's direction and strategy;
- Raised several million pounds of R&D tax credits for start-up organisations;
- Supported business development efforts through independent evaluation of financial modeling, particularly of new product launches.
General Background
David has lived in Kent for 10 years. His interests include visiting the gym, volunteer reading at a local primary school, and acting as unpaid chauffeur to his two young boys.
