Digital consumer healthcare company Clinova has appointed Alessandro Barnaba to advise its board on its growth funding strategy.

Barnaba spent more than 20 years at investment bank and financial services firm J.P. Morgan, where his roles included head of global markets sales and marketing for EMEA and global chairman of investment banking. He was also a member of its corporate and investment bank operating committee.

Barnaba co-founded Merlyn Advisors, a hedge fund with more than $500 million of assets under management. Through this fund, he owns Lille football club, which won the French league title earlier this year.

London-based Clinova is backed John Molter, former head of customer sales at P&G; Ernesto Levy, former head of Novartis consumer division in the US; and John Honey, former senior vice-president at Reckitt Benckiser.

Barnaba said: “I’m really excited to be joining Clinova, particularly at this stage in the company’s development. The digital healthcare market has seen huge growth in recent years, and Clinova’s combination of apps and products help solve real-life wellness problems at a time when healthcare across the world has never been more vital and, simultaneously, more stretched. I’m looking forward to using my experience to take it to the next level.” 

Arsalan Karim, co-founder of Clinova added: “Alessandro brings valuable financial and commercial experience to the Clinova team, and his support is a strong endorsement of the potential of our offering.  Clinova operates across 20 countries, focusing our efforts on the digital healthcare revolution. We are excited to be taking the next stage in building our team as we consider our next steps for further growth.”