Dr David Jeffreys
David studied medicine at Guy’s Hospital Medical School and after qualifying in 1975/76 he trained in clinical and academic medicine becoming a consultant with special interests in Cardiology, Metabolic Medicine, and Clinical Pharmacology. In 1985 after working on the review of patient safety, he joined the Department of Health to head up the Review of Medicine. Subsequently he went on to lead both medicines and medical device regulation in the UK, creating the MCA, CEO of the MDA and then MHRA and working with the EU Commission on the establishment of the European Medicines Agency. He served on several key EU and WHO bodies, serving for 16 years as the UK member of the EU CPMP/CHMP. was also special advisor on medical technology to the UK Government and visiting Professor in Medicine at the University of Newcastle.
In 2005 he joined the pharmaceutical industry as Senior Vice President at Eisai responsible for a wide portfolio including global regulatory and product development strategy and patient safety. He has been involved in bringing several new cancer and epilepsy medicines to the market and working in the development of new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease. He currently chaired several a range of key national international medicines committees for the pharmaceutical industry. He was a member of the IFPMA Council, a member of the ICH Management Board and the chaired EFPIA and ABPI Regulatory Science Boards.
David is a past President and Chairman of RAPS and TOPRA, longstanding Board Member of the FPM. His service to international public health has been recognised with a range of outstanding service and life time achievement awards. He received the Presidents Medal from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2024.
David has published widely including on risk evaluation and regulatory science
He retired from his role as Global Senior Vice President with Eisai in June 2024 when he became Mayor of Bromley. He still works as a pharmaceutical expert and consultant, is a member of the Council of Hertfordshire University, a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Science at Kings College London, external examiner for TOPRA and a Board member of the GMDP Academy. He runs two modules for the Academy in addition and an examiner.
He also serves on the CIRS Scientific Advisory Board
He is active in various bodies in the City of London in addition to the Society of Apothecaries, he is a Liveryman of the Glovers and Ceremonial Officer where his wife Ann-Marie is on the Court, a member of Aldgate Ward Club and the City Livery Club. His Wife Ann-Marie was Master of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London from 2020 to 2022. They have two children Sophie, a Lieutenant Colonel in the RMS who is an Accident and Emergency Consultant and is a Yeoman of the Society (her sub speciality is air ambulance medicine) and Peter, who is married with two sons and works as a director in Life Science recruitment.
David is a long-standing Councillor in Bromley and among other roles he chaired the Health and Wellbeing Board for 10 years before becoming the Civic Mayor for 2024/25 He served a 6-year term as Governor of King’s College NHS Foundation Trust. He was a governor of a state primary school in Bromley and on the Development Board of St Dunstan’s College.
He serves on several local charity boards and as a non-executive board member for several companies. He is a Licensed Lay Minster in the Church of England and in addition to serving in his local church, leads services as part of the team at St Georges Battle of Britain Memorial Chapel at Biggin Hill.
Hobbies includes sport, more watching these days, but plays golf and runs. Sailing with a power boat, art – mostly water colour painting, theatre, local history and environmental issued and travel.
David became the Master Apothecary in August 2025.