Meet our Trustees
The work of our Foundation is governed by a dedicated board of Trustees who bring a a wealth of philanthropic, charitable, commercial, financial and legal experience.
All our Trustees are volunteers, responsible for ensuring the organisations we support and which align with our objectives, receive the grant funding they need – through their work to carefully review and approve grantee applications.
The work of the Randal Foundation is governed by our board of Trustees.
In addition to their role governing our work, our Trustees work to ensure we carry out the purposes for which we were set up, in accordance with UK charity law and all governing processes, to ensure and further our public benefit.
As with all registered charities in England and Wales, our Foundation is regulated by The Charity Commission and our UK registered charity number is 1176129.
To find out more visit our Foundation’s page on The Charity Commission website.
"The Randal Foundation’s primary focus is to directly save lives. We do this by partnering with inspirational organisations who can intervene at crucial points, often in simple but innovative ways, to make a life saving or life transforming difference. Importantly too, we work with partners who provide hope to those who are most vulnerable - and who can be there for them, when they are in greatest need."
Our founder
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, Founder and Chairman of the Randal Foundation
Dr Nik Kotecha is a business leader and entrepreneur, as well as a philanthropist and influencer. Nik is the Founder and Chair of Trustees of the Randal Foundation, which he set up with his family in 2017.
From the very beginning and with the family’s diligent stewardship, the Foundation’s unwavering vision has been to save and significantly improve the lives of 1 million people – in the UK and around the world.
Alongside his philanthropic work, Nik is also an internationally renowned businessman, scientist, influencer and serial entrepreneur. He founded and led the inspirational growth of leading Midlands-based developer and manufacturer of generic medicines, Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and is the Founder and Chairman of RandalSun Capital.
Morningside Pharmaceuticals, a developer, manufacturer, wholesaler and exporter of branded and generic medicines and healthcare products, was started by Nik in 1991. From the most modest start in his home garage, converted to an office base – he grew it into a leading global pharmaceutical business.
Starting out as a 100% export company, by 2022 Morningside Pharmaceuticals had exported to 120+ countries, with a global product range of over 300 generic and branded EU and UK licensed medicines under Nik’s leadership.
As well as products delivered twice daily to UK pharmacies and NHS hospitals, Morningside supplied some of the world’s largest aid agencies such as UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and the Red Cross; these lifesaving pharmaceutical projects being some of the achievements for which Nik is most proud.
Growth was driven by an unrelenting approach to innovation, new markets, new jurisdiction product registrations and international commercial partnerships within a socially focussed business model.
Arriving in the UK in 1972 with his family as a child refugee, his family settled in Leicester. Having known forced displacement, homelessness and an extended period of poverty for him and his family, Nik was determined to forge a better life. He committed with determination, together with support from his parents, to his education – his path out of poverty. These experiences have directly shaped his lifelong passion to help others.
After academia, his medicinal chemistry career moved into drug discovery, focused on type II diabetes and infection. Next steps drew on his love of science, knowledge of medicines and his passion for affordable, accessible and high-quality healthcare for all. Alongside building his business, Nik made time throughout to contribute to his community, supporting local, regional, national and international initiatives.
Nik has held many national and regional public service roles, and today contributes on boards as diverse as The Prince’s Trust Council and the Centre for Social Justice. He represents the region in roles including Deputy Lieutenant for Leicestershire, and as both Export Champion for over 10 years and Trade Policy Advisor for HM Government Department for Business and Trade. He has previously held positions within the Confederation of British Industry, as Chair of the CBI East Midlands and led the Loughborough Town Deal as Chairman, securing significant of government investment for regeneration.
Under Nik’s leadership, Morningside was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, for International Trade, in 2012. He accompanied the then Prime Minister Theresa May on a trade mission to India in 2016 and in 2018 he received a Board of Trade Award, issued by the then Department of International Trade. In 2017, he was awarded an OBE for services to entrepreneurship, innovation in pharmaceutical services and philanthropy.
Nik’s entrepreneurial journey has been recognised by numerous other awards, and in 2022 he was named as one of the Top 50 UK Kindness in Leadership Leading Lights. He was also awarded the title of an EY regional entrepreneur of the year in 2021.
He has been honoured for his contribution to society by academia, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Leicester in 2023, formally recognising his contribution to science and the scientific community. In 2022 he was also recognised by De Montfort University, where he is Pro Chancellor, by being awarded the role of Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Philanthropy. In 2022, he also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Imperial College, London.
Nik is married to Moni, and they have two grown up children.
"I’ve known forced displacement, homelessness, and an extended period of poverty. It’s these experiences which have directly shaped my lifelong passion to help others."
Mrs Moni Kotecha FBDO
Having qualified in optometry in the City of London, Moni’s early clinical career began at Leicester Royal Infirmary, later working as a dispensing optician for a leading national firm of optometrists. She progressed quickly in the sector to have leadership responsibility across a large geography for the chain, and she went on to bring her clinical and managerial insights into the early establishment of Morningside Pharmaceuticals.
As co-founder of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, together with Dr Nik Kotecha, she helped build the foundations for this international company in the 1990’s – overseeing its subsequent rapid global growth to be one of the leading UK suppliers and exporters of a wide range of quality medicines, innovating its business model over time to also become a leader in the development and manufacture of high-quality generic medicines.
Key relationships for the company included those for international aid agencies, charities and non-governmental organisations, reflecting the companies intentionally socially-focussed mission, something Moni has been deeply passionate about since the very beginnings of the company. This focus remained true over decades, with Moni and Nik exiting the company in late 2022.
This is a passion she has brought into her work as co-Founder and Trustee of the family Foundation today, and one which has informed the values, mission and work of our Foundation, under Moni’s guidance and leadership.
Moni and Nik have two grown up children, and today Moni dedicates her time to their family, the Foundation and a range of wider charitable and business interests.
Mrs Monica Huang MSc
Monica Huang is Country Head and General Manager for the UK at Zydus Group. Prior to taking on this role, Monica spent 15 years within Morningside Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the smooth running of the organisation across all business functions, with particular emphasis on customer engagement and high-level corporate strategy. Monica had previous roles including as Office Manager, Operations Director, and before leaving, several years as Chief Operating Officer.
Mr Chris
Hobson
Chris has a background working in public policy development across both private and charity organisations. Roles have included Policy Director at the UK’s largest Chamber of Commerce, Regional Lead at the national trade body for housing associations, Project Coordinator for a national financial inclusion charity and Co-Organiser of the first ever independent review of the UK’s asylum system. Other non-exec experience includes roles in the housing sector along with several positions on business-led growth boards and partnerships across the Midlands.
Mr Matthew Thompson
Matt Thompson is a corporate partner in the Northampton office of Howes Percival LLP. Matt specialises in acquisitions and disposals of businesses, as well as restructures and corporate governance issues. Matt accepted the invitation to join the Board of Trustees of the Randal Charitable Foundation in December 2021.
Executive team
Our Foundation is supported by an experienced executive team which administers our grant giving processes, ensures full reporting to our Trustees, manages relationships with our grantees and partners on behalf of the Trustees and delivers the everyday work of the Foundation. They also have responsibility for liaising on press and media enquires. Our executive team can be contacted here.
Our team is led by our Chief Operating Officer, who reports directly to the Chairman of the board of Trustees, Dr Nik Kotecha. The team includes wider technical and administrative support colleagues, including a dedicated senior administrator with responsibility for grants management and all aspects of grantee support and administration.
In addition to grantee relationship management, undertaking in-house research and development projects and supporting proactive work with our partners, our Executive team have responsibility for ensuring full compliance with our internal and externally applicable policies and procedures, and for reporting to the board on the day-to-day running of all Foundation activities.