Senior Team

Dr Leonid Shapiro
Managing Partner
Dr Leonid Shapiro
Leonid founded Candesic in 2002 and is Managing Partner. Prior to Candesic, he was a senior consultant at McKinsey & Company in London working in healthcare, technology, and private equity.
Leonid’s experience also includes management roles as COO of a software company and CEO of a telecommunications company. Leonid holds a MD from Duke University, a PhD from the University of Oxford in Radiological Imaging, and an undergraduate degree in Physics from Cornell University. Leonid has published extensively in healthcare, from peer reviewed publications to thought leadership pieces in industry journals. He speaks Russian fluently.

Marc Kitten
Senior Partner
Marc Kitten
Marc is Senior Partner and co-founder of Candesic. Prior to Candesic, Marc was a consultant at McKinsey & Company in London.
Marc’s experience also includes holding a vice president position at Deutsche Bank, based in Frankfurt, Brussels and Paris. For 20 years he has been a visiting professor at Imperial College London and other universities where he lectures Private Equity and Corporate Finance. Marc holds an MBA from Chicago Booth, a Master with specialisation in finance from EDHEC, and attended the Young Managers Program at INSEAD. He is fluent in French and German.

Dr Michelle Tempest
Senior Partner
Dr Michelle Tempest
Michelle is Senior Partner and been with Candesic since 2004. Michelle spent over a decade as a front-line hospital doctor before joining Candesic.
Michelle is an experienced Board member and delivered global growth by evidencing improved clinical outcomes alongside financial returns. She edited ‘The Future of the NHS’ and authored ‘Big Brain Revolution: Artificial Intelligence – Spy or Saviour?’. She qualified as a doctor at Cambridge University, has a legal masters and is a Cambridge Angel. She is on the digital council at the Royal Society of Medicine and mentor’s start-ups.

Aldous Mitchell
Partner
Aldous Mitchell
Aldous is a Partner and joined Candesic in 2025. Before joining Candesic, Aldous was a partner at McKinsey & Company in New York.
Aldous's experience includes extensive buy, sell side and post-transaction advisory within private equity and sovereign wealth funds. He has worked with national government health departments, medical clinics and medical devices. He is passionate about the deployment of artificial intelligence in health care, life sciences and education. He has an MBA from INSEAD.

Floris Wentholt
Principal
Floris Wentholt
Floris is Principal and been with Candesic since 2014. Prior to Candesic Floris worked at various multinationals including for Procter & Gamble in the UK and for Total in Belgium.
Floris’ experience also includes working as a Senior Consultant at Bain & Company, being a lecturer at EDHEC Business School as well as being the founder and lead of a fintech venture. Floris holds a Master in Management from London Business School and a Master in Chemical Engineering from K.U. Leuven. He speaks French, Dutch, and Spanish.

Jack Zeng
Principal
Jack Zeng
Jack is a Principal at Candesic and has been with the firm since 2020. Prior to Candesic, he started his career at L.E.K. in Australia before moving into the corporate world, taking on various strategic roles.
Jack's experience includes an extensive range of commercial due diligence work and five years at McDonald's Corporate in a senior strategy role. He holds a commerce degree with distinction and a law degree from the University of New South Wales. He has worked across Sydney, Singapore, Boston, and London.

Dr Kristoffer Kenttä
Senior Engagement Manager
Dr Kristoffer Kenttä
Kristoffer is Senior Engagement Manager and joined Candesic in 2019. Previously, Kristoffer was a hospital doctor in Sweden and a senior consultant at EY in Stockholm.
Kristoffer practiced medicine as a physician for five years in emergency care and cardiology at various hospitals including Karolinska University hospital in Sweden. Kristoffer holds a medical degree (MD) from Uppsala University and has also studied business administration at Uppsala University. He is fluent in Swedish.

Dr Christopher Cassar
Senior Engagement Manager
Dr Christopher Cassar
Chris is a Senior Engagement Manager and rejoined Candesic in 2025, having previously worked here between 2020 and 2022.
Chris is a medical doctor and worked as a trainee surgeon within the NHS. Prior to Candesic, he was the Chief of Staff and Head of Innovations at Cignpost, the UK’s leading private COVID diagnostics provider. Chris’s experience also includes 8 years at Bain & Company in the UK, USA and South Africa and as Corporate Development Manager at Abcam. Chris holds a BA in Physiological Sciences and a BMBCh from Oxford University and an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD.

David Farbrother
Director of Content and Communications
David Farbrother
David joined Candesic in 2025 as Director of Content and Communications. He previously served as Head of Content at Nexus Media Group.
An award-nominated journalist and editor, David has worked on award-winning publications. He was Editorial Director at Healthcare Business International for years, and has held senior editorial positions at several newspapers. He has extensive experience in organising, hosting, and chairing sessions at healthcare conferences. David holds a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Christian Teixidor
Chief Operating Officer
Christian Teixidor
Christian is Chief Operating Officer and joined Candesic in 2023. Prior to Candesic, Christian was COO of the European business of Perella Weinberg Partners.
Christian’s experience includes being COO of HB Titan, an investment management firm, as well as working at Morgan Stanley’s M&A department in London and New York. Christian holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics and an MBA from Northwestern University. He is fluent in Spanish and Norwegian.
Advisors

Professor Nora Colton
Director of the UCL Global Business School for Health
Professor Nora Colton
Professor Nora Colton, Director of the UCL Global Business School for Health, is an influential health and development economist with regional expertise in the Middle East.
She has held academic leadership roles at institutions worldwide and undertaken degrees across several countries, allowing her to become very familiar with different education and health systems. She holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford. Nora also serves on the Industrial Advisory Board for Prince Sultan University in Saudi Arabia, Reform, Health Council UK (an independent think tank), Emlyon Business School, Healthcare Innovation, Technology & Society Institute, Scientific Committee, and Bedfordshire NHS Trust Governor.

Bracy Fertig
VP Strategy and Corporate Development of Caresyntax
Bracy Fertig
Bracy began her career in medical research in the field of Biochemistry and Pharmacology.
Bracy founded an early-stage biotech company during her research career, focused on novel therapeutics for heart failure. She subsequently worked in investment banking, leading the healthcare practice of a London-based boutique investment and advisory firm. In 2024, Bracy moved to the operating side of the table, joining Caresyntax, a growth stage surgical technology company, as VP Strategy and Corporate Development. She also invests in healthcare technology and MedTech via a private family office, where she is Head of Platform and a member of the Investment Committee.

Antoine Gelain
Senior Advisor in Aerospace
Antoine Gelain
Antoine’s past experience includes senior management and Board roles at Matra Aerospatiale (now Airbus Group), Booz Allen & Hamilton and Orolia. He co-founded Paragon European Partners, a boutique consultancy in 2004.
He is the author of the book « The Business of Aerospace: industry dynamics, corporate strategies and innovation models », published by the prestigious American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Library of Flight). He has been involved in multiple CDD and strategy projects with Candesic for companies such as CLS, Photonis, Everaxis, Orolia, Aresia, Etienne Lacroix Group, MBDA, Safran, Airbus Group and Honeywell. Antoine graduated from ESSEC in France and holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

Rt Hon. Robert Halfon
Former Minister for Apprenticeships, Skills and Higher Education
Rt Hon. Robert Halfon
Robert Halfon served 14 years in Parliament, including twice as Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills and latterly Higher Education.
As Minister, Robert launched the Skills for Life campaign to encourage more employers to take on apprentices, and brought through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to transform Adult learning. In 2017, he was elected as Chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee (and re-elected in 2019). Previously held roles and recognitions include Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party (2015 to 2016), PPS to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP (2014 to 2015), Lifetime Privy Counsellor using the title Rt Hon, Minister of the Year 2024, Spectator Backbencher of the Year 2022, AAC Special Recognition Award 2018 and Spectator Campaigner of the Year 2013.

Dr Siegfried Jaschinski
Former Chairman of the Management Board of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
Dr Siegfried Jaschinski
Siegfried Jaschinski is as partner of Augur Capital in a joint venture with the Steinbeis endowment, which is in charge of a franchise of more than 1000 Technology Transfercenters at German Universities and Polytechnics.
As former Chairman of the Management Board of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, Siegfried has vast expertise within financial services. Before joining Augur, Siegfried was a Board Member and partner of MainFirst Bank AG. Siegfried has also been president of the Federal Association of Public Banks, Chairman of the Baden-Württembergische Stock Exchange Stuttgart, member of the BaFin and CEBS Advisory Board, Supervisory Board Member of KfW and chairman of the Supervisory Board at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. Siegfried has a degree in business administration at the University Cologne and obtained his doctorate in history and philosophy from the University Düsseldorf.

Dr Sarah Khan
Women's Health & FemTech Advisor
Dr Sarah Khan
Sara is a physician with two decades of experience spanning NHS general practice, healthcare commissioning, and life sciences, with a particular focus on women's health.
As a GP, Sara specialised in women's health and sexual health, before going on to serve as Maternity and Gynaecology Commissioner and CCG Vice Chair for Herts Valleys, Watford & Three Rivers, where she led women's health service commissioning and pathway design for a system serving some 620,000 patients. Her life sciences career spans medical affairs, medical communications, and a commercial secondment focused on NHS health system partnerships – giving her a direct line of sight into how health tech and pharma innovation actually land within the NHS.
Sara is co-founder of Dear Daughter, a women's careers and leadership community, and a former board member of the Medical Women's Federation, where she served as Editor of their magazine and organised events for the London branch.

Professor Sneh Khemka CBE
Venture Partner at Archimed Health and Executive Director at NEOM
Professor Sneh Khemka CBE
Professor Sneh Khemka CBE MBChB MRCOphth MFHP (Hon) is a well-known figure in the world of healthcare.
Sneh has been the Global Medical Director for Bupa, Head of Population Health at Aetna/CVS Health, the US healthcare giant, and CEO of the Simplyhealth Group, a £240M revenue health insurer in the UK. Currently he is Venture Partner at Archimed Health and Executive Director at NEOM in Saudi Arabia, looking after Health & Wellbeing for the mega-project. He chairs or sits on the boards of a range of companies, including Synnovis, the UK largest laboratory/pathology provider, Habitual Healthcare, AllergyRhino, Medi2Data, Qured and Vault Capital Advisors. Sneh is an Honorary Professor of Healthcare at the University of Wales and holds an honorary degree in Public Health. He was made a CBE in the King’s New Years honours in 2025.

Dr Marco Mazevet
Senior Advisor in Dental
Dr Marco Mazevet
Marco is the Chief Clinical Officer of a major network of dental practices. His experience includes being the C.E.O. of Les Chirurgiens-Dentistes de France, the largest medical professional organisation in France.
Dr Marco Mazevet worked at Candesic as Engagement Manager. Prior to Candesic, Marco was the vice chairman of the World Dental Federation's Public Health Committee. Marco holds a PhD from King's College London in Health Economics and Policy, an MBA from INSEAD, and a Doctorate of Dentistry. Marco speaks French.

Dr Tim Ringrose
CEO and founder of Cognitant
Dr Tim Ringrose
Dr Tim Ringrose, trained as a nephrologist and intensive care doctor in Oxford before transitioning to health technology, serving as CEO of Doctors.net.uk and M3(EU).
He is founding CEO of Cognitant Group, a health technology company creating clinically-led immersive experiences using virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive mobile content. His past executive experience includes being CEO of M3 EU, also a health technology company providing physicians with trusted services and communities in which they can connect with each other and with healthcare organisations. Tim is also an adviser to health tech companies having worked over the years with innovators such as Qured and eConsult. He has served as president of the Digital Health council at the Royal Society of Medicine and is a Fellow of the NHS innovation accelerator.

Dr Samin Saeed
Global Medical Affairs
Dr Samin Saeed
Dr Samin Saeed is a medical doctor with 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning R&D, HEOR, Real-World Evidence, Medical Affairs, and Pharma Services. She has held leadership roles across both large and small biopharma companies, with experience covering a broad range of therapy areas including respiratory, immunology, neuroscience, cardiometabolic and rare diseases.
Samin is currently serving as a Vice President, Global Head of Early Medical at GSK, where she leads global medical for pipeline assets and early-launch readiness. Prior to this, she served as UK Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Director at Novartis, driving scientific engagement and evidence innovation across the UK portfolio. A graduate of King’s College London, Samin is passionate about advancing the role of Medical in shaping evidence and engagement strategies in order to accelerate access of medicines to patients will benefit at pace.

Dr Rav Seeruthun
Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Health-Equity.ai
Dr Rav Seeruthun
Dr Rav Seeruthun is Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Health-Equity.ai, a company that uses AI to identify and help solve health inequalities.
Previous to this he was an Officer and Vice-President at Genentech based in San Francisco leading a team of over 500 people across US Medical Affairs. He moved to this role after four years as Country Medical Director of Roche UK leading teams across all therapy areas. Previous to this he has held both commercial and medical roles at a European and affiliate level. Rav studied medicine at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School at Imperial College, London, he is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, a William Pitt Fellow at Pembroke College, Cambridge and holds an Executive MBA from Judge Business School, Cambridge.

Jayne Shaw
Executive Chair and co-founder of BCAL Diagnostics
Jayne Shaw
Jayne Shaw is the Executive Chair and co-founder of BCAL Diagnostics which is now listed on the ASX.
Founding an international healthcare consulting business, which was later acquired by Healthsouth, she co-founded Vision Group—which became an ASX-listed Ophthalmic Doctor equity model. She has founded and lead several healthcare companies which have either been sold or listed on the ASX and has worked on many international mergers and acquisitions with private equity companies in the UK, Australia and the USA. Currently she co-owns Sydney Breast Clinic and holds existing board positions at Magentus, Ellerston JAADE Australian Private Assets Fund, Mable Technologies, Pharm X and Prospection. Jayne also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Pinnacle Charitable Foundation Prospection and an advisor to the Board of Problem Shared (UK based).
