Avantor Taps Ex-GSK CFO Dingemans to Steer 'Revival Plan'

RADNOR, Pa. – December 18, 2025 – Life sciences company Avantor, Inc. today announced a significant addition to its leadership, appointing veteran executive Simon Dingemans to its Board of Directors, effective January 2, 2026. The move is a clear signal of the board's intent to accelerate its comprehensive 'Avantor Revival plan' as the company navigates a period of significant operational and financial challenges.

Mr. Dingemans, a former Chief Financial Officer of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and a partner at Goldman Sachs, joins Avantor at a critical juncture. The company is grappling with margin pressures, declining revenues in key segments, and what its own CEO recently termed "self-inflicted" execution challenges. His appointment is being positioned as a key component in a broader strategy to restore investor confidence and drive a return to profitable growth.

"The Board continues to take action to accelerate growth and profitability at Avantor," said Gregory Summe, incoming Chairman of the Avantor board, in a statement. "With Simon's breadth of experience guiding complex global organizations and his background in operational transformation, financial discipline and strategic execution, he is well suited to help advance the Avantor Revival plan."

The Mandate for a Revival

The 'Avantor Revival plan' is a multi-faceted strategy designed to fundamentally reshape the company's operational and financial trajectory. The plan is structured around five core pillars: evolving the go-to-market approach, strategically investing in manufacturing and supply chain, scrutinizing the portfolio to focus on the core business, simplifying internal processes, and strengthening talent with a culture of accountability.

A central and aggressive component of this revival is a cost transformation initiative, which was recently escalated from a target of $300 million to $400 million in run-rate savings by 2027. This effort involves significant restructuring, including site exits and digital investments aimed at streamlining the business, particularly within its largest segment, Laboratory Solutions.

The need for such a robust overhaul is underscored by the company’s recent performance. In the third quarter of 2025, Avantor reported a 5% year-over-year organic revenue decline and recorded a substantial non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $785.0 million related to its Distribution unit. The company also lowered its full-year 2025 guidance for organic revenue growth, adjusted EPS, and free cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA margins have contracted, falling to 16.5% in the third quarter, below previous guidance and reflecting persistent market headwinds.

An Architect of Transformation

Simon Dingemans’ resume appears tailor-made to address the challenges outlined in Avantor's revival strategy. During his tenure as CFO of GlaxoSmithKline, he was instrumental in leading major business services and technology modernization programs, overseeing complex capital allocation, and supporting strategic transactions that reshaped the pharmaceutical leader's portfolio. This experience in a large, global healthcare organization provides him with direct insight into the life sciences ecosystem in which Avantor operates.

His deep financial acumen was honed during senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs International, where he oversaw UK investment banking, and through advisory roles at private equity firm The Carlyle Group. This background in high-stakes financial environments equips him with the discipline and strategic foresight necessary for guiding large-scale cost-cutting and capital restructuring efforts. His current board positions at Vodafone, WPP, and the particularly relevant Genomics LTD, further demonstrate his capacity for high-level strategic oversight across diverse and complex industries.

His appointment directly addresses the fifth pillar of Avantor's revival plan: strengthening talent. Summe's statement emphasized that Dingemans' appointment demonstrates the board's "commitment to finding the best talent to help create value for our stakeholders."

Navigating a Sector at a Crossroads

The decision to bring in a leader of Dingemans’ caliber comes as the entire life sciences and advanced technology sector stands at a crossroads. The industry faces persistent macroeconomic headwinds and supply chain volatility, which have contributed to margin pressures and softer customer activity, particularly in commoditized areas like basic laboratory supplies.

However, these challenges are juxtaposed with immense growth opportunities. Biopharma R&D spending is projected to reach $250 billion by 2027, fueling demand for the mission-critical products and services Avantor provides. The rise of advanced therapies, including biologics and cell and gene therapies, represents a long-term, high-margin growth frontier.

Avantor's strategy reflects this dual reality. While working to fix its Laboratory Solutions segment—which accounts for roughly two-thirds of revenue—the company is simultaneously pivoting toward its more profitable and resilient Bioscience Production segment. This segment saw 2% organic growth in the second quarter of 2025 and boasts substantially higher profitability. Strategic moves, such as a distribution agreement with Abcam, are expanding Avantor's footprint in high-value biologics and cell therapy research, positioning it to capture a larger share of future R&D spending.

A Signal to a Wary Market

Investor and analyst sentiment toward Avantor has been decidedly cautious. The company's stock has faced pressure following recent earnings reports, and while some analysts see a value opportunity contingent on successful execution, others remain neutral, citing concerns over the commoditization of the lab solutions business and the timeline of the turnaround.

In this context, the appointment of Simon Dingemans is more than just a personnel change; it is a strategic communication to a wary market. It signals that the board, under its incoming chairman, is taking decisive action and is not content with the status quo. It reinforces a commitment to bringing in external expertise with a proven track record in financial discipline and operational turnarounds to see the 'Revival plan' through.

Mr. Dingemans expressed his enthusiasm for the task ahead. "Avantor's innovative products and services have made the Company a trusted partner to the scientific community across the globe," he stated. "I look forward to supporting the Company's efforts to drive operational improvements, deepen customer partnerships and position Avantor for sustainable, long-term success." His arrival is a key step in a broader leadership enhancement that has included a new CEO and an ongoing search for a Chief Operating Officer and Chief Digital Officer, all aimed at equipping Avantor with the talent required to fulfill its ambitious revival.