James Okafor

I look after the people side of Exxopharm — hiring, development, reward, and the culture that holds a scientific organisation together across nine countries.

I came to pharmaceuticals from organisational psychology, and I still design our leadership programmes around evidence rather than fashion.

Our inclusion commitments are measured publicly and tied to executive compensation; I would rather publish an uncomfortable number than a comfortable statement.

I am particularly proud of our apprenticeship route into laboratory and manufacturing roles, which now brings in around 80 colleagues a year without requiring a university degree.