Science and technology are evolving so fast, even experts struggle to keep up. Academic publications are written in language that only specialist audiences can understand, creating an impasse that holds humanity back.
Kudos is breaking this impasse by bringing storytelling to science.
We help the global research community showcase their ideas and discoveries to diverse and influential audiences in academia, government, industry, education and the media. We are the only platform dedicated to bridging the critical gap between research producers and users. In doing so, we help more people find, understand and benefit from research.
FRASER MACLEOD
Managing Director
I’m passionate about the mission of Kudos and the potential of the right research – explained in the right way – to change lives. I have spent over a decade working in medical communications, during which I have partnered with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies around the world to help disseminate and accelerate adoption of new life sciences research. This work has given me a deep-seated appreciation for the importance of scientific storytelling. Prior to moving into industry, I trained as a doctor at the University of Glasgow and in the West of Scotland.
CHARLIE RAPPLE
Sales & Marketing Director and Co-founder
Having spent over 25 years at the cutting edge of scholarly communications, I'm passionate about ensuring research is more effectively communicated. I am Chair of UKSG, a member of the Editorial Board for UKSG Insights, a blogger in the Scholarly Kitchen and a Fellow of the UN’s SDG Publishers Compact. I have a BA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Bristol, and a postgraduate MDip from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Prior to co-founding Kudos, I was a strategic marketing consultant with TBI Communications, and had previously held various management roles at CatchWord, Ingenta and Publishing Technology.
DAVID SOMMER
Product Director and Co-founder
Products are my passion! I have over 30 years' experience in the global publishing industry, having held senior product, technology and sales roles at Blackwell Publishing and a board level position at Macmillan. I ran a successful publishing consultancy for six years and have worked with many leading publishers, societies, vendors and libraries in Europe, the US and the Middle East. I am actively involved in standards development and chair the COUNTER Executive Committee. I regularly chair and speak at industry events and serve on committees with ALPSP and UKSG. I hold an MA in Physics from The University of Oxford and an MBA from University College Dublin.
STUART DAWSON
Chief Financial Officer
I joined the Kudos team as Chief Financial Officer in the summer of 2018, with a finance and operations background, having held roles as CFO and COO at a global academic publisher for 16 years. After completing a degree in Physical Geography at Sheffield University, I began my career with 11 years at the accounting and consulting firm Deloitte, where I qualified as Chartered Accountant, followed by 3 years in pharmaceuticals, before moving into the world of publishing and academia. Financial numbers are particularly powerful when accompanied by a clear business and commercial narrative. I strive to keep the narrative as straightforward and transparent as possible, linking this with operational efficiency and steering growth and transformational change.
ALEX REID
Head of Technology
I'm a software engineer. During my BSc Computer Science degree programme at the University of Hull, I focused on functional programming and creating tools to help people learn to write software. Since then, I've switched gears to building web applications, with a particular interest in the software that runs on servers like the one sending you this page! When I'm not writing software, I enjoy cooking new recipes and going out on hikes – it usually rains, but that's all part of the fun!
TERESA CARVILL
Finance Manager
I am a Finance and Operations professional with expertise in accounting, sales accounting, and office management. With over 25 years of experience working in UK and European business environments, I bring a deep understanding of diverse financial and operational functions. I hold a degree in Modern Languages, which has enriched my ability to communicate effectively across international teams and markets. My career spans a variety of organisations within the education and scholarly communications sectors, including Kudos, TBI Communications, and Learning With Experts. Outside work, I enjoy ice skating, dancing, and sailing.
MAEVE CROGHAN
Account Manager
I have held varied roles within the Education, Charity and Heritage sectors. Like Kudos, I am passionate about ensuring research has impact and is accessible to as wide an audience as possible. This was key in my role at Nesta, the Innovation Foundation, where I was responsible for researching, testing and communicating new education initiatives with the aim of helping young people prepare for the future. I hold an MA in Comparative Literature from Goldsmiths, University of London where I focused on Post-Colonial Literature from Ireland and the Caribbean.
SARAH MUSTAPHA
Business Development Manager
I have twelve years' experience in digital media and publishing, within and outside academia – including roles at SAGE, the Guardian, and the British Medical Journal. I'm passionate about business development – I have launched various new products and services, and I love finding ways to add value, and building long-term relationships with colleagues and customers to help solve people's problems. Outside work, I have a degree in modern languages from the University of East Anglia. I have a young family, I’m an avid reader and cook, and I have aspirations to write something longer than this one day.
ANNE-MARIE PRITCHARD
Senior Software Engineer
I am a self-taught software engineer with a BA in English Language from Lancaster University. I enjoy working with Kudos's varied and well thought-out technology stack as well as contributing to an exciting/forward thinking product. Outside of work, I enjoy sports and fitness (especially climbing/bouldering), and art/drawing.
VIVIEN PINNER
Sales Support Executive
I have worked in sales since leaving school. I have mainly worked within FMCG catering food sales and have a wealth of experience in customer service, business development and account management. I'm passionate about matching the correct product to the right client and leaving every one with a smile on their face. Working for Kudos is a big change for me and it's exciting to be part of such an interesting, innovative and inclusive environment. Away from the office you can generally find me enjoying a Netflix boxset, rescuing ex battery hens or being embarrassed by my two dogs.
ALISON FORRESTAL
Chair and Non-Executive Director
Alison has chaired Kudos since 2020. She has worked in international blue chip companies, privately owned SMEs and technology-based start-ups across UK, Europe, Russia/CIS, Australia and USA, including leadership roles with Diageo, Amazon and Immediate Media. Her experience covers digital media, publishing and e-commerce, with specific expertise in developing customer-led innovation and growth strategies in multi-channel businesses. Responsibilities have included leading business transformation with a focus on enabling growth and digital expansion, developing teams from 10 people to 500+, engaging 25m+ digital customers, and optimising digital and physical customer journeys to diversify and grow revenue streams. She is also now the co-owner of a cattery, meaning she literally has expertise in herding cats.
MELINDA KENNEWAY
Co-founder and Non-Executive Director
Melinda has worked in the scholarly communications industry for over 30 years, and is passionate about supporting change that helps make research more accessible and effective. After completing her degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, she quickly fell into academic publishing, specialising in marketing. Melinda has held Board-level positions with the Journals Division of Oxford University Press and Bioscientifica. She also founded the industry's leading marketing agency, TBI Communications. Melinda co-founded Kudos in 2013 to help transform research communications – using the powerful new channels that are emerging, together with new metrics of reach and impact, to help researchers optimise their time in increasing readership and citations for their work.
DAVID SOMMER
Co-founder, Product Director, Executive Director
David Sommer (biography given above) is also a member of the Kudos board.
DINESH MODI
Non-Executive Director
Dinesh is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant (USA) with over 20 years of hands-on experience across corporate finance, strategy, operations, fundraising, IT, and M&A. He has worked globally with organizations such as BearingPoint, WNS, M.C. Dean, Eros International, and Modiguard. Having collaborated with diverse business houses, he has played a key role in driving business growth and streamlining financial and operational processes to enhance efficiency and profitability. Known for his strong business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset, Dinesh blends strategic insight with practical execution. Passionate about mentoring, he enjoys engaging with people to explore fresh ideas and innovative approaches.
SOURAV DUTTA
Non-Executive Director
Sourav serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Cactus Communications while also heading growth at Cactus Life Sciences. As strategy head, he is responsible for strategy roadmap, acquisitions and investments, post-merger integrations, strategic transformation, and incubation of new businesses. With an engineering degree and MBA from IIM Bangalore, he combines analytical rigor with strategic vision. At Cactus, Sourav spearheaded acquisitions including UNSILO, Mindthegraph and nspm, while leading strategic investments in portfolio companies including Kudos, Scite, Ex-Ordo, Scholarcy, doDOC, and Cadmore. Prior to Cactus, Sourav honed his expertise at PwC Strategy Consulting, Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), Tech Mahindra, and Tata Consumer Products. Having invested in Kudos through Cactus and witnessed its potential firsthand, he brings both strategic guidance and practical insights to accelerate its growth trajectory.
