EURO/DPC Managing Director Honored

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth receives Stephen Britton during the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Stephen G. Britton, Managing Director of EURO/DPC Limited, received an honorary Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) award in October of 2003 for services to the diagnostics industry. This prestigious British award is conferred for exceptional achievement or service. King George V founded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1917, which today honors individuals for public service.

Mr. Britton joined EURO/DPC in 1993, having already had 15 years' experience in the diagnostics industry with a number of DPC's competitors. EURO/DPC was established in the UK to manufacture DPC's products for the European market but now has a much wider market throughout the world. The Company has grown at an average rate of 20 percent per annum over the past 10 years, and personnel have increased from around 100 to almost 350 in the same period.

Mr. Britton's name was published in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June of 2003. The news that he was to be awarded an honorary O.B.E. for services to the diagnostics industry came as somewhat of a surprise when he was contacted by a local journalist while attending his son's school sports day. After hearing the news, Mr. Britton said that the honor was totally unexpected and would not have been possible without the help and support of his wife and family throughout his career. He added, "I have been fortunate to work for DPC over the last 10 years, a period in which the Company has invested heavily in their UK facilities and business. Whilst DPC has been expanding, the tendency has been for the medical diagnostics industry in the UK to undergo consolidation and contraction. DPC has very successfully reversed this trend, and the UK Company now makes a significant contribution to the economy in North Wales."

On October 16, 2003, Mr. Britton attended an investiture ceremony held at Buckingham Palace to receive his award from Her Majesty the Queen. There to witness the occasion were his wife, Susan; daughter, Fiona; and son, Ian. He said that receiving the honor with his family present at the investiture ceremony was a wonderful experience for the whole family.

The Glasgow-born scientist studied a biochemistry degree at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He later moved to England to pursue his career and has been the Managing Director of the EURO/DPC facility in Wales for the past 10 years.

Only UK citizens, or citizens of any country where Her Majesty the Queen is head of state, are eligible to receive full honors.