Kate Bingham

The Hon. Catherine Elizabeth Bingham (formally styled The Hon. Mrs Norman; born 19 October 1965)[1] is a British venture capitalist.[2]

In 2020 Bingham chaired the UK Government's Vaccine Taskforce, steering procurement of vaccines and the strategy for their deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life and education

Born in London as the only daughter of the eminent jurist, Tom Bingham (later Lord Bingham of Cornhill, KG), and Elizabeth née Loxley, Kate Bingham was educated at St Paul's Girls' School, London,[3] before going up to Christ Church, Oxford, where she graduated with a first-class degree in Biochemistry (MA).[4]

Bingham then pursued further studies at Harvard Business School, taking the degree of MBA.[5]

Career

Bingham worked in business development for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and consultants Monitor Company before joining Schroder Ventures in 1991 (now SV Health Investments).[6][7] She became a managing partner specializing in biotechnology, and has served on the boards of companies in the UK, US, Ireland, Sweden and Germany, including Autifony Therapeutics, Bicycle Therapeutics, Mestag Therapeutics, Pulmocide, Sitryx, and Zarodex Therapeutics.[7][8]

As of January 2021 she is listed as being a director of the following active companies:[2] Mestag Therapeutics Ltd; Cybele Therapeutics Ltd; Bicycle tx Ltd; Bicycle Therapeutics plc; Sitryx Therapeutics Ltd; Pulmocide Ltd; Autofony Therapeutics Ltd; Bicycle RD Ltd; SV Health Investors Ltd (whose subsidiaries include the Dementia Discovery Fund);[9] and SCV Health Managers LLP.

Bingham also serves as a Trustee of the Francis Crick Institute.[6]

HM Government appointment

In May 2020, Bingham was appointed Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, set up to manage the path towards the introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and its global distribution.[4] In this temporary unpaid role,[10] which finished at the end of the year,[10] she reported to the Prime Minister.[4] In October, she was one of the participants in a trial of a vaccine by Novavax.[11]

On 1 November 2020, The Sunday Times alleged that she had shared 'official sensitive' information about UK vaccine plans with private companies in the USA, and also commented that she had been appointed to the Taskforce despite having no vaccine experience, mentioning that she was married to a Conservative government minister.[12] A response by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the same date said that they had approved the content, and that there was nothing which was not publicly available nor could be readily deduced. They added that it was her business skills in drugs discovery, and reputation amongst pharmaceutical and vaccine companies which was the reason for her appointment, rather than being a vaccines expert.[13]

Later in November, The Times reported that Bingham had "insisted" on employing her own team of eight PR consultants at the equivalent of £167,000 per annum each.[14] One government source was reported as saying that the consultants had helped her prepare for interviews, assisted with press statements and set up an official government podcast.[15]

The New York Times among others globally has lauded Bingham's swift vaccination rollout programme.[16]

Honours

In January 2017, Bingham received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the BioIndustry Association UK.[7]

Personal life

Bingham married Jesse Norman in 1992; the couple have two sons and a daughter.[17] Dr Norman was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hereford and South Herefordshire in 2010. As of 2021, he serves as Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the administration of Boris Johnson.

References
  1. Mosley, Charles (ed.) (2003). Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 107th edn. London, UK: Burke's Peerage & Gentry Ltd. p. 376 (BINGHAM OF CORNHILL, LP). ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "Catherine Elizabeth BINGHAM". Companies House. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  3. Johnson, Rachel (23 June 2001). "From here to maternity Conventional thinking says women waste a brilliant education by becoming full-time mothers. Not so, says Rachel Johnson". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. "Kate Bingham appointed chair of UK Vaccine Taskforce". GOV.UK. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. "In the UK, She Leads the Search for a COVID Vaccine". Harvard Business School. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. "Kate Bingham, Board Member". Francis Crick Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. "Kate Bingham, Management Partner". svhealthinvestors.com. SV Health Investors. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. Bingham, Kate (27 October 2020). "The UK Government's Vaccine Taskforce: strategy for protecting the UK and the world". The Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32175-9. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  9. "SV Health Investors UK Limited: Annual Report and Financial Statements". Companies House. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  10. "Covid-19: Vaccination targets could be exceeded, says Kate Bingham". BBC News. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. Merrifield, Ryan (14 October 2020). "Oxford coronavirus vaccine boss warns UK won't get back to normal until at least July". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  12. Pogrund, Gabriel; Dyer, Henry (1 November 2020). "Vaccine taskforce head Kate Bingham shared UK plans with private firms". The Times. London. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  13. "A statement regarding Kate Bingham and the Vaccine Taskforce". www.gov.uk. UK Government. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. Stubley, Peter (8 November 2020). "UK Covid vaccine taskforce head 'charging taxpayer £670,000 for PR consultants'". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. Pogrund, Gabriel (7 November 2020). "Vaccine tsar Kate Bingham runs up £670,000 PR bill". The Times. London. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  16. www.nytimes.com
  17. Merrick, Jane (7 October 2012). "Jesse Norman: 'The British people are crying out for leadership'". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
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