About Us

Our Management
Executive
Liam Fitzgerald Barry McGrane Chris Corbin Alan Ralph

Chief Executive
Officer

Finance Director

MD of
Sales, Marketing &
Medical division

MD of
Healthcare Supply
Chain division
Non-Executive
Ronnie Kells Annette Flynn Peter Gray John Peter

Chairman
Gary McGann Philip Toomey Hugh Friel Chris Brinsmead
Directors Bios  
Ronnie Kells Chairman
Ronnie Kells is Chairman and a non-executive director of United Drug plc. Ronnie was appointed Chairman on 5 October 2005, having served as a non-executive director since 1999. Prior to joining United Drug plc, Ronnie was Group Chief Executive of Ulster Bank. Ronnie is also a non-executive director of a number of other companies.
Liam FitzGerald CEO
Liam FitzGerald was appointed a director of United Drug plc in October 1996 and Chief Executive in October 2000. Liam joined United Drug plc in 1993 and was previously Managing Director of United Drug Distributors. Prior to joining United Drug plc, Liam worked in Dimension Marketing Limited and Jefferson Smurfit Group plc. Liam is currently a non-executive director of Warner Chilcott plc and C&C Group plc, Chairman of Traidlinks, and is a former Chairman of the Marketing Society.
Barry McGrane Finance Director
Barry McGrane was appointed a director of United Drug plc in August 2001. Barry joined United Drug plc in 1993 and has held various senior finance roles throughout the Group and also that of Company Secretary. Formerly, Barry worked with Reflex Investments plc and Andersen, Dublin.
Chris Corbin MD of Sales, Marketing & Medical division
Appointed a director of United Drug plc in June 2003, Chris Corbin is Managing Director of Sales, Marketing & Medical division. Chris founded Ashfield Healthcare Limited and previously held sales management positions with Parke Davis, Fisons, Astra and May & Baker. Chris was formerly Patron for SETPOINT Leicestershire, Chairman of Leicestershire Business Awards and a member of Derbyshire Magistrates Bench.
Alan Ralph MD of Healthcare Supply Chain division
Alan Ralph was appointed a director of United Drug plc in June 2008. Alan joined United Drug plc in 1999 and currently holds responsibility for the Healthcare Supply Chain division. Prior to this, Alan held various roles throughout the Group including Managing Director of the Pharma Wholesale division. Formerly, Alan worked with Banta Corporation and Price Waterhouse.
Annette Flynn Non-Executive Director
Annette Flynn was appointed a director of United Drug plc in September 2004. Annette joined United Drug plc in 1996 and currently holds responsibility for the Packaging & Speciality division, having previously led the Supply Chain Services division. Prior to this, Annette was responsible for group strategy formulation and implementation. Prior to joining United Drug plc, Annette held senior positions with Kerry Group plc working in their Irish, UK and US operations. On 7 March 2011 Annette Flynn stepped down as an executive director and was appointed as a non-executive director.
Peter Gray Non-Executive Director
Appointed a non-executive director in September 2004, Peter Gray is Chief Executive of ICON plc, the Irish based multinational pharmaceutical development services company. Prior to joining ICON plc in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, Peter held senior executive positions in a number of Irish public companies. Peter is currently also a nonexecutive director of Danica Life Limited.
John Peter Non-Executive Director
Appointed a non-executive director in September 2005, John Peter is a member of the Board of Solvay UK Holdings Limited, responsible for co-ordinating Solvay's business in the UK. John was formerly Chief Executive of Solvay Healthcare in the UK and Ireland and held various senior positions in research and development, international marketing and business development in Europe and the US.
Gary McGann Non-Executive Director
Gary McGann was appointed a non-executive director in September 2004 and was appointed the Senior Independent non-executive director in November 2007. Gary is Group Chief Executive of the Smurfit Kappa Group. Before joining the Jefferson Smurfit Group in 1998 as Chief Financial Officer, Gary held various senior executive positions in Irish industry. Gary is also Chairman of Aon McDonagh Boland and a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT).
Philip Toomey Non-Executive Director
Appointed a non-executive director in February 2008, Philip Toomey is the Global Chief Operating Officer for the financial services industry practice of Accenture. Philip has wide ranging international consulting experience and is a member of the Accenture Global Leadership Council.
Hugh Friel Non-Executive Director
Hugh Friel was appointed a non-executive director in April 2009. Hugh is Chairman of Tourism Ireland and was formerly Chief Executive of Kerry Group plc. Hugh also previously worked with Aer Lingus, New York, Mobile Oil Corp., London and Erin Foods, Ireland.
Chris Brinsmead Non-Executive Director
Chris Brinsmead was appointed a nonexecutive director on 12 April 2010. Chris was formerly Chairman of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals UK, President of AstraZeneca UK and Ireland and President of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Chris is also a non-executive director of other companies including Domino Printing Sciences plc and The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.