Having joined Smith+Nephew in July 2013 as chief counsel for Asia Pacific and emerging markets, Helen Barraclough worked her way up the ladder to land the top job as group general counsel in January 2022. Three months later, she also took on the additional role of company secretary, making her the first legal boss at Smith+Nephew to wear both hats.
In her first year in the role, not only has Barraclough had to take on responsibility of the medical equipment manufacturer’s 57-strong legal team, but she has provided support to the company’s new CEO, who joined last April. Barraclough has also been instrumental in planning for the company’s new £100m research and development facility for advanced wound management and she has implemented technology to manage legal risk, contract workflow and make the company easier to do business with.
But this is just the beginning, as 2023 will test Barraclough’s management of many macro unknowns. Inflation, increased regulation and the possibility of Covid-19 lockdowns globally could impact the company’s supply chain and are challenges she will need to address. Thankfully, she says she has a phenomenal team to lean on and a young family to enjoy any downtime with.