Harry Thomas Stratford OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 (born 1948) is the founder of Shire plc, one of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

's largest pharmaceutical businesses.

Career

Educated at the University of London

University of London

-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...

, Harry Stratford founded Shire Pharmaceticals in 1986 and remained its Chief Executive until 1994.

In 1995 he founded ProStakan, another pharmaceutical business, and was Chief Executive there until he became Executive Chairman in 2004; he was then Non-Executive Chairman from 2006 until he retired at the end of 2007. In 2008 he became a Non-Executive Director of Merrion Pharmaceuticals.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 in the 2007 New Years Honours List.