Singapore-based Verita Healthcare Group, a provider of preventative and personalised healthcare, has appointed https://healthinvestor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo-social-1.png James Kirkwood (pictured) to its board as an independent non-executive director.

Verita operates in eight countries and the company stated that Kirkwood’s appointment is “linked to the company’s decision to locate its European headquarters in London as it builds the infrastructure and team to deliver its international ambitions”.

Kirkwood’s is currently independent chairman at financial advisor Ondra, a non-executive director at goldmining company AngloGold Ashanti and a senior independent director at vanadium producer Bushveld Minerals.

He has worked for 31 years at Citigroup, where he was latterly UK head and chairman of corporate banking. He has held management positions in the UK, New York, Scandinavia and Switzerland. In London, he was deputy chairman of the British Bankers Association, chairman of the Association of Foreign Banks, president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the inaugural chairman of British-American Business.

In his earlier career, Kirkwood spent several years in Asia, based in Singapore, with the Ralli-Bowater Group. He was also a director of the British Government’s UK Financial Investments, chairman of healthcare entity Circle Holdings, deputy chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ advisory board and as a non-executive director of Eros International and Kidde.

Julian Andriesz, chief executive of Verita, said: “Verita is growing rapidly around the world and  corporate governance and international business expertise are important to us. Appointing a board member of https://healthinvestor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo-social-1.png’s calibre and experience was not only a priority, but validates our strategy and vision. I am confident that his counsel and insight will be invaluable as Verita establishes its London headquarters and continues its European expansion plans.”