Mike Knowland, Northern Europe general manager at Bayer’s consumer health division, was last Thursday (January 9) named president of the PAGB. 

Mr Knowland, who worked at multinationals including Unilever and Philips before joining Bayer in 2021, had been vice-president of the consumer healthcare trade body since December 2022.

He inherits the presidency from Bas Vorsteveld, who headed up Haleon’s Britain and Ireland business until the end of 2024.

Mr Knowland said: “I am really looking forward to working with the PAGB in this highly strategic role.

“The value of self-care is increasingly recognised by national policy makers in Government and NHS England.

“Now is an exciting time where we can really push for better support for self-care, helping to save patients waiting for GP appointments as well as saving primary care time and NHS money.”

He said he plans to “keep making the noise and driving the awareness of self-care that equips and empowers healthcare professionals and society” and that promoting awareness of the role of community pharmacy teams will be a key objective.

“Industry also has a role to play as partners in delivering healthcare information directly to consumers,” he added.

PAGB chief executive Michelle Riddalls commented: “We are delighted to welcome Mike Knowland as president of PAGB. Mike brings a wealth of experience and insight which will be enormously valuable as we work towards improving access to self-care in the UK.

“Community pharmacy is an integral part of this work, widening access to over-the counter (OTC) medicines and providing solid, professional support in treatment options and education in self-care across communities.

“As a PAGB board member since 2021, and more recently vice-president, Mike understands this environment very well and can help drive the self-care agenda forward.”

Mr Knowland fills the presidency as PAGB launches its new five-year strategy, which focuses on improving access to products that patients can use to self-care.

“For 2025 and beyond, our focus at PAGB is about supporting the Government’s manifesto commitments to take the pressure off GP surgeries by ‘improving access to services and treatment through new routes’ and to expand the role of self-care, with pharmacy playing a pivotal role here,” said Ms Riddalls.