About
Pioneer with Purpose
We are driven by a fundamental belief in the power of innovation and collaboration to tackle the challenges of human and planetary health. We create the spaces for that to happen, maximising the impact of our companies whilst minimising our collective environmental footprint.
Mission and Values
Shared Passion
Our company was formed through a shared passion to help innovative companies start and scale in the UK before growing overseas. We work in partnership with operators across the innovation ecosystem to ensure a joined-up approach to doing so.
Network Effect
We often say that innovation is a ‘contact sport’. The larger our network becomes the greater our capacity to make meaningful introductions and interventions on behalf of any one member in the network, increasing the added value we can offer.
Insight
Market Commentary
Two decades of operating across science, investment and real estate give us a distinctive perspective on what helps innovation ecosystems succeed.
£15bn invested in UK university spinouts over ten years could leverage a further £27bn of co-investment, create over 1,700 additional spinouts and 56,000 skilled jobs.
Our people
The Leadership Team at Pioneer
Our leadership and wider team bring together expertise across institutional finance, real estate, life sciences, innovation, technology commercialisation, venture building, venture capital and entrepreneurship. We operate as ‘One Team’, integrating knowledge and insight across these areas.
Pioneer is fully employee-owned, with roots dating back to 2003 and the formation of one of the UK’s first biotech incubators at BioCity Nottingham.
Richard O’Boyle
Chief Executive
Former fund manager. Founded and built three companies, together managing around £1.75bn of assets.
Toby Reid
Executive Director
Twenty years running life science properties and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Background in engineering, start-ups and venture capital. Former chief executive of BioCity Group.
Dr Glenn Crocker MBE
Executive Director
Chartered accountant and former EY UK Head of Biotechnology before becoming founder chief executive of BioCity Group. MBE for services to biotechnology.
Simon Hoad
Executive Director
Over thirty years in real estate development and asset management, and in the science and technology sector since 2000.
Paul Oliver
Finance Director
Qualified accountant with over twenty years as a senior financial executive. Previously chief financial officer of BioCity Group and of Vectura Group plc.
Harry Pickering
Portfolio Director, Head of UK Real Estate Investments
Former fund manager at Schroders Capital, with more than seventeen years across complex regeneration and strategic partnerships.
Chris Walters
Portfolio Director, Head of EMEA Real Estate Investments
Former Head of UK Life Sciences at JLL, advising occupiers, investors and developers on science and innovation real estate.
Dr Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi
Head of Ventures
PhD in clinical medicine and ten years creating, building and raising for life science companies. Former head of next-generation sequencing at a venture-backed start-up in AI-enabled genome editing.
Miranda Knaggs
Head of Ecosystems
Twenty years running life science focused properties and ecosystems. Former chief executive of Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst.
Gemma Partington
Head of Marketing and Customer Experience
Fifteen years marketing and brand management experience in life sciences, business incubators and innovation ecosystems.