The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan de Sousa Caires as its new Director of Finance and Technology, a key leadership role as the organisation transitions to become the Royal College of Pharmacy.

This brand-new role will lead the Finance and Technology functions and manage the RPS property and investment portfolio to deliver against the Objects of the College. As Director of Finance and Technology, Alan will help manage the implementation of the College’s upcoming strategic plan and overall financial leadership and management of the College.

Alan joins RPS from The Film and Television Charity, where he served as the Director of Finance & Operations, leading finance, HR, IT, legal, facilities, risk and governance, acting as a key strategic partner to the CEO and Board. He brings more than 30 years’ strategic finance and operations experience across commercial and non-profit organisations, including Director of Finance & Business Services at BBC Media Action, leading global finance and technology teams in 25 countries, and finance positions at the Chartered Insurance Institute and General Electric.

Alan’s appointment is part of carefully planned and managed leadership changes announced in August and designed to ensure that key appointments are in place as RPS transitions to become a royal college.

Paul Bennett, Chief Executive of RPS, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Alan as Director of Finance and Technology. His extensive experience and expertise across a wide variety of disciplines will be invaluable to embed the financial structure and activities of the new Royal College of Pharmacy.

Alan de Sousa Caires said:

“I am honoured to be joining RPS at such an important time in its history. I am excited to bring my experience of finance, technology and governance through complex change to support RPS as it becomes the Royal College of Pharmacy, and to work with colleagues, members and partners to build a financially sustainable, digitally enabled college that keeps pharmacy at the forefront of patient care.”

The new Executive team also includes roles such as the Director of Education and Director of Pharmacy. The new Chair of Trustees for the new charity board was also recently appointed.

The transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy is expected to be completed by April 2026.

 More information about the RPS’s journey to becoming a royal college