- Ed Bussey in Talks to Lead Oxford Science Enterprises
- Potential CEO with a Background in Internet Entrepreneurship
- OSE’s Diverse Portfolio of University-Based Startups and Investors
Ed Bussey, one of the co-founders of Figleaves.com, is the leading candidate for the position of chief executive officer at Oxford Science Enterprises.
A former diplomat and prolific internet entrepreneur is in discussions to lead the investment firm that finances Oxford University-based startups.
Ed Bussey, one of the founders of the online clothing retailer Figleaves.com during the original dotcom boom, is close to being designated the new CEO of Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE).
Mr. Bussey is believed to be the leading candidate for the position, which has been vacant since Alexis Dormandy quit OSE in December of last year.
If confirmed, it would place a successful entrepreneur in control of a company with stakes in dozens of start-ups in industries ranging from biotechnology to nuclear fusion.
Mr. Bussey also established the digital content production company Quill and served in the Foreign Office and Royal Navy.
In 2010, he accomplished an unsupported expedition to the North Pole for charity.
Following many board chair and CEO resignations, OSE will choose a new CEO.
Professor Sir John Bell, the scientist who served as Boris Johnson’s COVID testing guru, resigned from the organization’s board in February, citing the strain of his other obligations.
OSE, formerly known as Oxford Sciences Innovation, is an investor in scores of companies, including Vaccitech, which developed the biotech platform that AstraZeneca used to develop its COVID-19 vaccine.
Its portfolio also includes the nuclear fusion energy startup First Light and the deep-tech company Animal Dynamics.
Just months after raising £250 million through a rights offering, Mr Dormandy resigned as spinouts vehicle CEO.
The OSE has a roster of institutional investors that rivals any comparable vehicle in the globe.
Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Temasek Holdings, the Singaporean government fund, are among its publicly disclosed shareholders.
The Chinese telecoms technology behemoth Huawei Technologies is also a shareholder.
OSE, co-founded by famous City executive Alex Snow, said its search for Mr. Dormandy’s successor was “as planned.”
Other startups it has backed or established include blood diagnostics company Osler and digital textbook platform Bibliu.
Last year, major pharmaceutical corporations bought MiroBio and DJS Antibodies for $655 million.
