Our leadership

Paul previously worked at 3M Company (“3M”) between 2004 and 2020, within the US and UK. During this period, he led a number of global businesses including the $5 billion revenue Consumer Business Group, as well as several enterprise functions including Strategy and Business Development, Marketing and Sales and Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Paul’s other experience includes senior roles at General Electric, McKinsey & Company and General Mills. He is a graduate of Carleton College and Harvard Business School.

Clare Scherrer was appointed to the Board and Chief Financial Officer in April 2022. Clare joined Smiths from Goldman Sachs where she spent more than 25 years, and was a Partner for more than a decade, and most recently Co-Head of the Global Industrials business. Clare has extensive experience working with a broad range of industrial companies around the globe. Prior to joining Smiths Clare had been a close advisor to the Group for a number of years, including having advised on the sale of Smiths Medical as well as having contributed to the development of the strategy announced at the November 2021 Capital Markets Event. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Clare was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. She holds a BA from Harvard University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Bernard Cicut joined Smiths as President of John Crane in April 2022. Bernard joined from 3M where, over the course of over 30 years, he held a number of senior leadership roles across multiple industrial technology businesses, covering Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas. Bernard has deep global experience in operations, new product development, and lean six sigma, all of which are central to John Crane’s focus on sustainability and energy transition.

Julian joined Smiths in July 2013 and was appointed to Group Strategy and M&A Director in October 2017. Appointed CEO of Flex-Tek in 2019. He was previously Group Financial Controller. Prior to this, he spent two years at Royal Caribbean Cruises as Finance Director for UK Ireland and prior to that, he worked for 12 years at Procter & Gamble, based predominantly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Diana Houghton joined Smiths in 2014 and has played a key role in developing the Group’s growth strategy. She was appointed the Group Head of Strategy in 2019 and joined the Executive Committee in April 2022. Diana’s previous roles at Smiths included VP, Strategy & Marketing for Smiths Detection. Prior to Smiths, Diana held Executive Committee strategy and M&A roles at Allied Domecq plc and the Bass Leisure Group (part of Bass plc). She has also held a number of non-executive and board advisory roles.

Vera Kirikova joined Smiths as Chief People Officer in April 2022. Prior to joining Vera was most recently the Chief People Officer for Rio Tinto from 2016-2021. Prior to Rio Tinto, Vera spent 22 years at Schlumberger where she held a number of global leadership roles in HR and Operations. Vera has deep experience leading talent development and cultural transformation in large global businesses. Vera is a strong advocate for inclusion and respect. Her passion is to help people and teams to realise their full potential and enable the business to thrive.

Sir Kevin Tebbit was appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, in early 2019, joining the Executive Committee of the business in June 2021. Previously, Sir Kevin was a non-executive director of Smiths Group from 2006 until 2018, the last three years as Senior Independent Director. During his career, Sir Kevin held policy management and finance posts in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and NATO, including Director of GCHQ and Permanent Under Secretary at the MoD between 1998 and 2005. Sir Kevin Chairs RISC (the Trade Associations for the UK Security Industry). He is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, and serves on a number of academic Advisory Boards and Charitable Trusts. Sir Kevin Tebbit was appointed to the Board as a non-executive director on 14 June 2006 and was appointed as the Senior Independent Director on 17 November 2015. Sir Kevin held policy management and finance posts in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Foreign and Commonwealth Office and NATO. These roles included Director of GCHQ and Permanent Under Secretary at the MoD between 1998 and 2005. Sir Kevin’s career as a former senior British civil servant provides Smiths with considerable experience of government relations and the security and defence sectors.

Tony joined Smiths in 2015 and was appointed Group SES Director for Smiths Group in October 2021. Tony's previous roles at Smiths included VP, Strategy & Marketing and VP, EMEA, both for Smiths Detection. Prior to Smiths, Tony worked at Honeywell, ABB and Landis + Gyr.

Ted Wan joined Smiths as President of Greater China in 2015. Ted also serves as Vice Chairman and Executive Committee member for The British Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai. Prior to joining Smiths he held several senior General Manager roles at Stanley Black and Decker, Danaher and J.D Power, with responsibility for growing their China business. Ted has extensive experience and a strong track record in growing business in China in the Industrial and Automotive markets.