EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

("EKF", the "Company")

Director appointments

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM listed point-of-care, central laboratory and molecular diagnostics business, announces the appointment of David Toohey and Doris-Ann Williams MBE to the Board as Non-Executive Directors with immediate effect.

David Toohey (57) has over 30 years' experience in international business, the last 20 of which have been in medical devices and the In Vitro Diagnostics ('IVD') industry. He is CEO and founder of Syncrophi Systems Ltd, a company pioneering the development of next-generation frontline patient care and clinical informatics solutions. David began his career in electronics system design and manufacturing settings but moved into the medical device industry when he joined Bausch+Lomb in 1993, where he led the modernisation of work practices in a large contact lens facility. He joined Boston Scientific in 1995 as local Managing Director and later Vice President, led the site as it grew to 2,500 employees, and was engaged in the design and manufacture of a wide range of minimally invasive medical devices.

Joining the corporate executive team of Inverness Medical (now Alere Inc) in 2001, David, through a number of roles including VP New Products, President Global Professional Diagnostics and President International Business Operations, helped drive the rapid growth of the company to become the global leader in rapid diagnostics. . He is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and a Chartered Engineer, holds an MBA and is a member of the Institute Of Directors. David has recently joined the board of Croi, the non-profit West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation.

Doris-Ann Williams (54) has been Chief Executive of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association ("BIVDA") since October 2001 and has more than 30 years' experience working in the IVD sector. She has had a variety of experience, initially in R&D and subsequently in commercial roles including international responsibilities. She is on the Editorial board of IVD Technology, sits on a number of steering groups including that of the Technology Strategy Board and is currently on the NHS Implementation Board for Innovation, Health and Wealth. She also works closely with European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association and other global IVD industry associations. She was awarded an MBE in January 2011 and was recognised as a Friend of the Royal College of Pathologists in November 2012. 

David Evans, Chairman of EKF, commented: "I am delighted to have been able to attract David and Doris-Ann to the Board of EKF to act as independent non-executive Directors. I know that their domain experience in IVD will enable them both to challenge and support the Executive Team and to enable the Board to function more effectively."

Enquiries:

Additional information:

Mr David Toohey, aged 57, is currently a director, or has held directorships at the following companies during the previous five years:

Mrs Doris-Ann Williams, aged 54, is currently a director, or has held directorships at the following companies during the previous five years:

There is no further information to be disclosed under Schedule 2(g) and Rule 17 of the AIM rules in respect of Mr Toohey and Ms Williams appointments as Non-Executive Officer.

About EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc - www.ekfdiagnostics.com

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc was formed in July 2010 following the acquisition of EKF-diagnostic GmbH for €14.32m and refocused its strategy to one of building a substantial point of care diagnostics business. As part of this strategy, the Group has integrated three further acquisitions, Quotient Diagnostics Limited (acquired in September 2010), Argutus Medical Limited (acquired in December 2010) and Stanbio Laboratory L.P. (acquired in June 2011). In 2013 EKF established a new subsidiary, EKF Molecular Diagnostics Ltd, to focus on molecular and companion diagnostics and acquired 360 Genomics Ltd, a business that owns diagnostics technologies for cancer gene detection.

The Company, with its head office in Cardiff and operations in London, Germany, Poland, Russia, Ireland and the US, is a leading diagnostics business, focussing on the development, production and distribution of chemical reagents and analysers for the testing of Glucose, Lactate, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit and HbA1c.

In March 2011 EKF entered into a distribution agreement with Alere Inc ("Alere"), a global diagnostics company, under which Alere was appointed the exclusive distributor of EKF's CLIA waived Hemo Control device and cuvettes in the US, Canada and United Kingdom. The device is distributed in the US under the name HemoPoint H2. 

In March 2014, EKF acquired Separation Technology, Inc., a Florida based manufacturer of in vitro diagnostics devices for the haematology testing market. In April 2014, EKF completed the acquisitions of Selah Genomics Inc., a US based developer of molecular diagnostics for personalised medicine and DiaSpect Medical AB., a Swedish based manufacturer of point-of-care haemoglobin analysers.