Zulf Masters, executive chairman, Masters International
A classic global entrepreneurial story: Zulf Masters has grown his pharmaceuticals business over almost three decades, recently raising money to fund its expansion across the world.
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Zulf Masters, CEO and founder, Masters International, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3TJ
Profile
Former pharmaceuticals salesman Zulf Masters founded his own business in 1984 after studying at Liverpool John Moores University. His firm sells prescription medicines around the world. He was awarded the OBE for services to international trade. Masters recently raised £2.65m from Albion Ventures to assist the firm's expansion in Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean, where the Zulf Masters Foundation is active. The firm has deep connections in the Caribbean. Masters also plans to launch in Asia. Former Roche Pharmaceuticals CEO Bill Burns joins the firm as chairman.
The business distinguiHere's his official biog:
Zulf Masters studied Clinical Biochemistry at Liverpool University graduating in 1979 and was later awarded a PhD in the same subject. On leaving university, he took a sales position with Beecham Pharmaceuticals where he gained valuable experience in sales, marketing and international distribution. In 1984, Zulf founded Masters Marketing in the UK.
In 1990, Masters made its first move into the US market opening Masters Medical in Florida. This was followed four years later by the establishment of Drogeria El Salvador to serve as a base for marketing and distribution in Central America.
Over the past 22 years, Masters' culture has been intensively focused on delivering rapid and efficient service to its many customers around the world. Zulf continues to respect the core company value that, no matter how remote the location, there is always a patient in need of care at the end of the distribution chain.
Today, Zulf continues to be actively involved in the company but has stepped back from day to day operations to concentrate increasingly on research and new market and product development. A new management team has been brought in to build on Masters' success and has recently introduced enhancements to further improve on existing high levels of service quality.
On January 2004, Zulf was awarded the ‘Order of the British Empire' (O.B.E.) for services to British International Trade.
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