Richard Salvage has been recently described as ”one of the most inspirational and accomplished but least celebrated business leaders in the UK today.“ 1

Combining a passion for science with a desire to make a difference, Richard built one of the world’s most successful contamination control companies, Shield Medicare, which enables hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, across the world to control potential contamination and improve customer product quality keeping harmful bacteria at bay and improving quality of life.

Driven by innovation; a deep understanding of the customer and a culture of empowerment, Shield Medicare developed excellence in customer and service delivery; a world leading product range; became the brand leader in the UK with sales around the globe and was acquired in June 2006 by Ecolab, an American company with a turnover of $4 billion.

Richard believes that organisational culture starts at the top and that the combination of a well communicated, strong vision with a commitment to continuous improvement throughout every department is the key to success.

Since the sale of Shield Medicare Richard has set up MEDSA GROUP, which builds innovative, fast growing and profitable companies that impact upon the quality of people's lives and the environment in which they live. Together the five companies within MEDSA GROUP have a combined turnover in excess of £10m and are growing at 50% per year. Since divesting Shield Medicare, Richard has developed a mergers and acquisition team within the MEDSA GROUP which is having a significant impact and will fuel MEDSA’s growth.

Richard is also completing his PhD research into contamination control, the results
of which will set new standards for cleanliness and preventing the spread of harmful germs and bacteria in hospitals and other critical life science environments. He is a regular guest speaker at Cranfield University School of Management, which is recognised as one of the best post graduate business schools in the World, where he shares his management approach with aspiring leaders of growing businesses.

1 Gerard Burke, Business Growth Program Director, Cranfield University School of Management