The Directors
Ian Gray, Chairman
Ian has extensive international experience of business recovery in wide-ranging assignments.Ian's boardroom experience includes numerous PLCs and spans many different industry sectors, including: agriculture, apparel, biotech, construction, distribution, electronics, engineering, FMCG, fund management, healthcare, leisure, manufacturing, media, property, retail, telecoms and travel.
He was Chief Executive of Tottenham Hotspur, Chairman of Abel & Cole and has been a Director of Stoll Moss Theatres, Jigsaw, Robert Dyas and Furniture Village.
Ian is Chairman of Atlantic Productions and Fresh To Store and a Non-Executive Director of Kent Messenger, Alchemy VR and Holyhead Boatyard.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants; holds the Corporate Finance Qualification; and is a Chartered Manager.
Shiraz Hirji, Non-Executive Director
After Shiraz retired from Cartwrights in February 2013, he was invited to become a Non-Executive Director of Avicenna which ensures his continuity with Avicenna and the expectation that with all the experience and history, Shiraz will have much to contribute to the continuing growth and prosperity of Avicenna.
Salim Jetha FFRPS FRPharmS, CEO
With over 30 years experience in pharmacy Salim is Avicenna's CEO. He was one of the founding directors of the business and has previously held the position of Chairman.With 40 years’ experience in pharmacy, Salim is Avicenna’s CEO. He was one of the founding Directors of the business and has previously held the position of Chairman. Salim has many other business interests and owns a busy high street pharmacy in which he still works one day a week. He has undertaken a management course at Imperial College, London and has an intermediate level qualification in professional accountancy. He was honoured a Fellow of Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in 2012 followed by Faculty Fellow of RPS. He was awarded the Editor’s Award by Pharmacy Business in recognition of his achievements with Avicenna. He has been on many judging panels for industry awards and is still an active member of his Local LPC. Charity work is another interest and he has organised large charitable walks for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Cancer Research. In his spare time Salim likes to Ski with his family in the Alps.
Ash Mehta FCA BPharm, Group CFO
After initially qualifying and practising as a pharmacist, Ash went on to train and qualify as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London.After initially qualifying and practising as a pharmacist, Ash went on to train and qualify as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London. He started his finance career in large companies such as Eli Lilly and Parexel International, where he was FD of a $100m business unit, before moving into FD roles in smaller public companies.
Over the last fifteen years, Ash has held a number of senior financial roles in full-listed and AIM companies mostly in the healthcare and technology sectors, and has extensive experience in public company fundraisings and acquisitions. He is currently a non-executive director of Northbridge Industrial Services plc, an AIM-quoted business where he was previously Finance Director; he joined soon after IPO and helped the company grow from revenues of £7m to over £30m in four years, both organically and by acquisition.
In his spare time Ash enjoys football, tennis and technology.
